WHO issues 'weather alarm' in Europe

The World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded the alarm about the deadly cold weather that has endangered vulnerable people in Europe over the past days.

“A wave of cold weather hitting Europe this week poses health risks, particularly to people in vulnerable situations,” the WHO warned on its official website on Friday.

The agency's European head, Zsuzsanna Jakab, said the cold, even when not at its peak, "can be harmful to people's health in many ways."

Jakab said it "can aggravate existing conditions and raise the risk of increased blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes."

She said that "frequently, poor households are the hardest hit."

Poor people "can least afford to adequately heat their homes. Homeless people, and refugees and migrants can be especially vulnerable. Their risk increases if they lack proper clothing, food and medical care," she warned.

The extreme cold, which has claimed more than 60 lives of mostly homeless people across Europe over the past week, showed little sign of ending on Friday.

After heavy snowfall and deadly blizzards lashed Europe on Thursday, conditions marginally improved in some regions but temperatures generally remained sub-zero, forcing more major delays on roads, railways and at airports.

Energy suppliers have asked users to consume less gas. 

According to weather experts, the unprecedented low temperatures will continue until the end of the week.

A Siberian weather system, which media have named “Beast from the East”, has been the cause of the unusually cold weather, about 7°C colder than the historical average for this time of year, in Europe.

SS