Cold waves

A cold wave is a period of marked and unusual cold weather characterised by a sharp and significant drop in air temperatures near the surface (maximum, minimum and daily average) over a large area and persisting below certain thresholds for at least two consecutive days during the cold season.

Cold weather can affect rural women and women that rely on livestock for their livelihood, and impact their access to health care service. Rural women may have to travel farther to access health care and in harsh weather, and this travel may result in health risks. For example, the cold wave in Syria in 2022 and other conflict zones made it riskier for women to access safe spaces due to lack of warmer and safer infrastructure addressing all needs for women and their health both physical and mental.