In Which Countries Snow Removal Is Worst: Systemic Causes and Consequences The problem of inefficient snow removal, contrary to popular belief, is not limited to warm countries unexpectedly hit by snowstorms. It is often a systemic issue in states with regular and abundant snowfall, where there is a lack of proper infrastructure, funding, logistics, or political will. The worst situations occur in countries where several factors are combined: climate instability, economic difficulties, geographical complexity, and weak institutions. 1. Countries with a warm climate not prepared for snow For these territories, snow is a rare anomaly, making the maintenance of expensive infrastructure meaningless. Georgia, Armenia, Greece (southern regions), Turkey (Istanbul): Problem: Lack of special equipment, reagents, and legally approved action protocols. During the 2022 snowstorm, the cities of Tbilisi and Istanbul were completely paralyzed for several days. Snow was removed manually, with municipal services and the army using ordinary front-end loaders and dump trucks not suited for snow removal. Example: In Istanbul in 2022, the snowstorm led to thousands of vehicles being blocked, flights being canceled, and coast guard boats being used to evacuate people stuck in traffic jams. The lack of studded tires among the population exacerbated the chaos. 2. Countries with complex terrain and historical construction Even with resources, physical geography and planning make snow removal extremely difficult. Afghanistan, Pakistan (mountainous regions), some countries of the Caucasus: Problem: Mountainous serpentine roads and narrow streets in historical settlements are inaccessible to standard snow removal equipment. Snow removal is often manual or not at all, leading to prolonged isolation of entire districts. These regions regularly suffer from avalanches blocking key transportation arteries for weeks. Interesting fact: In remote areas of Afghanistan, national army units with engineer ... Read more