Homeless amputees whose limbs were amputated due to severe frostbite lie at a hospital in Bishkek, February 13, 2008. Extreme cold is no surprise to the 60 million people scattered across a region wedged between Russia, China and Iran, but this year's winter has exposed the poor state of crumbling Soviet-era utilities and pipelines and sparked energy shortages. REUTERS/Vladimir Pirogov (KYRGYZSTAN)
REUTERS/VLADIMIR PIROGOV