The Senate's Disaster Management Committee came under fire on Tuesday over its preparations for the seasonal natural disasters which happen each winter in remote areas of the country.
Members of the committee defended their preparations from the criticisms of their fellow senators, saying they have taken the necessary steps to fight the expected disasters – mainly avalanches – together with the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock.
"We have already sent some aid materials to the remote areas and we are more prepared than last year," Agriculture Minister Mohammad Asif Rahimi said, adding that the preparations will also fight the shortage of food that happens during winter when roads are cut off.
Afghan Health Minister Suraya Dalil also expressed readiness to provide necessary and basic health facilities to the remote districts and areas of the country.
"We are committed to providing health services to the remote districts of the country," she said before the Afghan senators on Tuesday.
Some senators criticised what they said was unbalanced aid last year and the lack of support for people living in remote areas.
"The aid was distributed to the provinces in an unbalanced manner," Head of the Senate Fazel Hadi Muslimyar said.
Several other senators including first vice chair Mohammad Alam Ezedyar said that aid never made it to some of the remote areas last year.
One senator claimed that roads to some of remote areas are already blocked and no action is being taken by the responsible authorities.
"There are still no preparations being done. Roads to some of the areas are already blocked, what will happen to them?" Senator Gulalai Akbari said.
This comes after hundreds of people including women and children died last winter in heavy snow falls and avalanches, mainly in Afghanistan's north.
Scores more died in the spring floods which followed.