中國‧新疆雪崩14死‧至今27人死於寒潮 Extreme weather kills Mongolia livestock

（中國‧北京）中國新疆省伊犁哈薩克自治州週二（1月26日）發生嚴重雪崩，造成14人被大雪活埋而喪命。新疆雪災災情經過多日仍未好轉，迄今已有至少27人死於寒潮。

中國國際廣播電台報導指出，事發地點伊犁哈薩克自治州與哈薩克斯坦邊界接壤，當地居民多為哈薩克人。

報導沒有透露進一步詳情。

根據官方媒體本週一（1月25日）公佈的數據，共有13人死於這場60年來最嚴重的雪災，其中的12人是被雪崩活埋喪命。

中國今年迎來一場特大寒潮，西北部大片地區均受暴雪襲擊，其中新疆省的災情最為嚴重。

報導指出，數以千計的居民因房子被積雪壓跨而遷離家園，另外還有無數的牲口因難抵嚴寒，不是被凍死就是被餓死。

The United Nations has warned that extreme winter weather has killed more than a million livestock in Mongolia.

The organisation said this was likely to harm the country's food supply and worsen poverty.

It said 19 of Mongolia's 21 provinces had been hit by heavy winter snow and -40C temperatures.

Mongolia suffered a severe drought during the summer months, which prevented the stockpiling of food for livestock.

More than a third of Mongolians herd livestock for a living in the poor, landlocked country.

"The poor did not have the resources to stockpile food or fuel for heating, and the supplies in the now inaccessible villages as a whole are stretched," said Rana Flowers, the UN's resident coordinator in Mongolia.

Ms Flowers said UN agencies were trying to reach the worst-hit people, and are particularly concerned about pregnant women cut off from medical facilities by the heavy snow - three have reportedly died in childbirth so far, she said.

The agencies are also worried about pneumonia rates among children and pregnant women, and increasing malnutrition.

The UN is coordinating all donor contributions to Mongolia, after the government asked for food, medicine, heating supplies, warm clothing and money to buy and deliver food for livestock.