Asker, 66, and Akil, 65, Kyrgyzstan

Severe winters and energy shortages in Kyrgyzstan are leaving many older people unable to heat their homes.

To highlight the impact temperatures as low as -30C have on older people, HelpAge interviewed Kyrgyz about how they cope during winter. Among them were Asker, 66 and his wife Akil, 65.

Asker said: "We are afraid of winter because everything is expensive here. It is hard to survive. We can use the electricity for only 4-5 hours a day. Our pension is quite low. Life is getting harder every year. We eat mainly potatoes grown in the yard, and bread with jam. We really hope everything will be OK.

Foraging for fuel

"I keep the house warm mostly by using wood and animal dung, which we collect from our cattle. But we don't have enough dung to heat the whole house, so my granddaughter and I go out to collect it. I have two gardens, with five apricot trees and four apple trees. I also collect bundles of wood from them. We have some coal, which my son in Bishkek brought here. We only use coal for one or two hours before we go to bed because it is freezing in the night."

Fighting the cold

HelpAge is reaching out to people like Asker by giving them shoes, blankets, thermos flasks and kerosene lamps. We also work with older people groups to insulate homes.

Asker continued: "I worry about my wife's health. She needs to take different kinds of medicine three times a day. My sons in Bishkek help her to pay for it. I am afraid that she will die. I love her so much. I married her when I was 16 years old. Since then I have been in love with her. I can't imagine life without her. As for my health, I am excellent. I believe in the power of words. If I say excellent every day, I will be excellent."

Watch Asker and Akil