( dpa ) - Extreme cold and power cuts have left large numbers of people without water or light in Tajikistan in Central Asia, the UN children's charity, UNICEF, said Friday.
A major hydro-electric power plant had been affected by falling water levels as rivers froze, threatening production, while energy supplies from neighbouring countries such as Uzbekistan had also been reduced.
Frozen wells and disrupted pipe supplies had left many families relying on melted snow for drinking water. The price of wood as fuel had doubled to 20 dollars, out of range of many people.
At least two newborn babies had died in maternity hospitals due to electricity shortages the UN organization said in a statement. Up to 60 per cent of maternity units had no access to safe water. Children in all 3,800 schools across the country were exposed to extreme cold with many forced to stay at home.
The extreme cold was set to continue throughout February, said UNICEF, which has launched an appeal for 720,000 US dollars, in response to an appeal by the Tajikistan Health Ministry, to help fund emergency generators, soap and baby blankets.