Cold wave sweeping Europe leaves dozens dead.

The cold wave sweeping across Europe, which has already caused dozens of deaths, originates from a polar air mass coming from Scandinavia; there are no official figures on the number of deaths so far, but it is estimated to be over 80; a large number of victims, around 30 people, were registered in Poland, where some regions continue to suffer from temperatures as low as -20°C; the organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF) warned, in a statement, about the serious risk of hypothermia to which thousands of refugees are exposed on the Greek islands and in the Balkan countries; they are trapped under snow and freezing rain, in overcrowded camps, living in precarious tents and facing sub-zero temperatures.

January 12, 2017, 20:11 AMUpdated June 29, 2018, 10:53 pm

The cold wave sweeping across Europe, which has already caused dozens of deaths, originates from a polar air mass coming from Scandinavia; there is no official data on the number of deaths so far, but it is estimated that there are already more than 80; a large part of the victims, about 30 people, were registered in Poland, where some regions continue to suffer from temperatures as low as -20°C; the organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF) warned, in a statement, about the serious risk of hypothermia to which thousands of refugees are exposed on the Greek islands and in the Balkan countries; they are trapped under snow and freezing rain, in overcrowded camps, living in precarious tents and facing sub-zero temperatures (Photo: José Barbacena)

Brazil Agency - The cold wave sweeping across Europe, which has already caused dozens of deaths, originates from a polar air mass coming from Scandinavia. There are no official figures on the death toll so far, but it is estimated to be over 80. A large number of victims, around 30 people, were registered in Poland, where some regions continue to suffer from temperatures as low as -20°C.

The organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF) warned, in a statement, about the serious risk of hypothermia to which thousands of refugees are exposed on the Greek islands and in the Balkan countries. They are trapped under snow and freezing rain, in overcrowded camps, living in precarious tents and facing sub-zero temperatures.

“Greek authorities must stop boasting about their humanitarian achievements while thousands of people remain abandoned and suffering in the midst of a harsh winter, waiting for their asylum applications to be processed. No one seeking protection or fleeing war, violence and torture should be left helpless in the cold,” said Clement Perrin, MSF’s general coordinator in Greece.

According to the Portuguese newspaper Expresso, following criticism from humanitarian agencies, Greek authorities decided to transfer 250 people who were in tents at the refugee camp on the island of Lesbos to hotels. Furthermore, a warship with a capacity for 500 people was reportedly sent to the location yesterday to accommodate some of the refugees.

Several countries have reported deaths of elderly and homeless people due to hypothermia. According to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the main concern is with refugees located between Turkey and northern Europe.

According to the Spanish newspaper El País, 24 people have died in Ukraine and 10 in Belarus due to the intense cold. In Italy, there are reportedly eight cases; six in the Czech Republic; six in Bulgaria; three in Albania; two in Greece; two in Russia; one in Serbia; and one in Croatia.

According to MSF, more than 7.500 people are stranded in Serbia, living in overcrowded camps. In an agreement with the European Union, the country agreed to shelter 6 people, of whom just over 3 are in sheltered locations away from the cold. The organization states that in Belgrade, approximately 2 people from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, and Syria are sleeping in abandoned buildings in the city center while temperatures reach twenty degrees below zero.