EXTREME COLD TEMPERATURE AWAITS MALCON-ISAF GROUP

QATAR, Oct 22 (Bernama) -- Extreme cold weather that could plummet to 40 degree
Celsius below freezing point may bog down Malaysian Armed Forces members serving
with the International Security Assistance Force (MALCON ISAF) when they arrive
in Afghanistan on Friday.

Malcon-ISAF Medical Logistics Management Group chief Major Hassan Masro said the
extreme cold temperature was expected to happen from the middle of this month
until next January.

"All officers and members of Malcon-ISAF had been trained both mentally and
physically to face the atrocious weather.

"They had also attended a crash course on Dariduia language at the
International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) to enable them to communicate with local community," he told reporters here Thursday.

The 30-member team including seven women, who left Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, are now in Qatar on transit to the Bamyan region in Afghanistan.

The are expected to fly to Afghanistan by a United States Air Force (USAF) transport aircraft tomorrow morning.

"The focus of our training is to provide first aid and trauma treatment besides healthcare to local residents.

"We will also train their public health officers with equipments and training modules provided by the Malaysian government," he said.

The main Malcon-ISAF group made a stopover at the al-Udeied air base manned by the USAF for logistic purposes and changing transport aircraft.

The group will be on duty in Afghanistan between six and nine months to help rebuild and develop the country.