In pictures: Ethnic minority people in record cold

The Phu La ethnic minority people in Nam Sang village, Nam Sai commune – one of the poorest communes in the district of Sapa, Lao Cai province are suffering from the terrible cold, which repeats after decades.

 

The road from Sapa town to the commune of Nam Sai is being built. It is slippery with mud all year round, with an abyss on one side and mountains on the other side. Nam Sai, over 30km of a steep, winding road from Sapa, is the home to the Phu La people. A corner of the Nam Sang village, with all residents as Phu La ethnic people. Most houses in the village are bamboo-made. Adults work while children play on the road in the day of 1oC. The Phu La people are also known as Xa Pho, Bo Kho Pa, Mu Di Pa, Pho, Va Xo Lao or Pu Dang people. Mr. Ho Nu Phe, 57, is sitting in his house in the village of Nam Sang. As the party secretary of the village for 10 years, Phe still lives in the bamboo house like other people here. Cold wind can easily slip through the bamboo-made walls. People have to warm themselves by burning fire in their house. These days, Sapa is very cold, and the temperature can go down to -1 ° C. A Phu La boy with a torn coat. Living in bamboo houses, the people here have to endure the cold wind regardless of day or night, inside or outside the house. Horses of local people are grazing in the fields. Cattles of Nam Sang people do not die of cold but their important source of income–cardamom is probably affected because of snow. Phu La children play in the cold. Despite the harsh weather, they are poorly dressed. A boy’s face with cracks caused by the dry and cold weather. Phu La people in Nam Sang, including the elderly, like drinking. The harvest season just finished so they do not lack rice but many families will lack food in the pre-harvest season from June to September every year.

In pictures: Ethnic minority people in record cold