Snow brings threat for Russian homeless

Moscow has been bucketed with heavy snowfalls, more than two weeks before winter officially starts, raising concerns for the city’s homeless. Hundreds die of hypothermia each year.

Each night thousands of people sleep rough on the capital’s streets. For them the following months will be a nightly challenge to stay alive.

Charity and volunteer organisations are doing their best to provide aid, giving the homeless food and medical help. But they can only help so many people a night.

Many homeless come to Moscow in the belief that they will receive better help there.

The Department of Social Defence says that eight shelters they run are only 90% full even in the depths of winter and can offer shelter to nearly 1,500 homeless people.