It’s 10 a.m., and the 2-year-old is still waiting for breakfast. Aliou Seyni Diallo collapses to his knees in tears and plops his forehead down on the dirt outside his family’s hut.KIEV, Ukraine — Ukrainian officials say the death toll from a severe cold spell that has hit Eastern Europe has risen to 43 people, most of them homeless.
The Emergency Situations Ministry said Wednesday that 28 people were found dead on the streets, eight died in hospitals and seven in their homes. More than 720 others were hospitalized with hypothermia and frostbite.
Temperatures dropped to minus 22 F in some regions, prompting authorities to close schools and nurseries. The cold spell also caused power outages and blocked traffic.
Authorities have deployed over 1,730 heating shelters across the country where the homeless people can get warm and eat.
