The UB Post-Leading English News

While precipitation in Ulaan Baatar this Summer was quite significant, more than usual, it was much less than usual in many other Provinces.  And while there hasn’t been too much snow in the capital city this Winter, it’s been unusually significant elsewhere.

Extreme cold is also not really so unusual in Mongolian history.

But in the most “Zud” stricken areas this winter, heavy and continuous snowfall and blizzards have come along with a sharp fall in daily temperatures - dropping to below -40° Celsius in 19 out of the total of 21 ‘aimags’ (provinces) in Mongolia.  Usually when the temperatures are so low, snowfall tends to be less.  But not in a “Zud” condition. And when those conditions are met with a deficiency in fodder production and stockpiling, the results can be catastrophic.

According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the extreme cold and heavy snow have already caused the death of more than one million livestock, worsening food security and has now predicted this to subsequently result in a deepening of poverty and increased internal rural-urban migration for many families.  According to the World Bank, livestock herding accounts for around 35% of today’s employment in Mongolia.

In addition to concern for the situation of isolated herding families, the agencies making up the United Nations Team are assessing the situation of the poor, particularly those living in the 94 soums (villages) considered to be most affected and inaccessible. “The poor did not have the resources to stockpile food or fuel for heating and the supplies in the now inaccessible villages as a whole are stretched”, said Rana Flowers, the Resident Coordinator A.I. in Mongolia. “The UN agencies have mobilized to assess the situation and coordinate our efforts to reach the most affected populations.  In addition to the impact this is having on livelihoods now and into the future, we are worried about the immediate plight of the isolated population. Among health concerns are pregnant women cut off from facilities and trained care (three women have reportedly already died in childbirth); increases in ARI and pneumonia in the light of the H1N1 in the country among children and pregnant women; and malnutrition levels with lowering levels of access to food and nutrition in affected areas”, she added.

In addition, children who have been ordered to remain in dormitories due to the danger they would face trying to travel to their families in such conditions, are living with limited and extremely poor heat and limited food supplies in many schools. There are approximately 22,200 children in 265 dormitories in need of assistance.In the last zud of 2001, considered less severe than the current 2010 crisis, an increase in malnutrition and acute infections in children and pregnant mothers were documented. The plight of populations in the post-zud period which lasts from late February to early spring is also a period of concern with food supplies having been exhausted and the animal supply severely depleted, and the subsequent risk of disease being heightened. The trauma of losing livelihoods results in families and children being at higher risk of developing extreme fatigue and psychological stress.

The Government has appealed to the donor community for food, flour, rice, medicine and equipment, candles, heating supplies, warm clothing, as well as for funding to buy and deliver fodder for livestock. The United Nations in Mongolia was formally requested to coordinate all donor contributions.
The United Nations agencies and specialized agencies actively contributing to the relief efforts in Mongolia include FAO, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO and UN-HABITAT.