Mongolia: Cold Wave - May 2023

A devastating snowstorm swept across eastern parts of Mongolia including Dornod, Sukhbaatar, Khentii provinces and certain provinces in Gobi areas, starting from around 06:00 AM on 19 May 2023 throughout the day and night until around 13:00 PM on 20 May. According to the National Agency for Meterogoloy and Environmental Monitoring, the average wind speed was 18-20 m/s and it reached 28-30 m/s at some point. Due to the storm, 124 people (mostly from herder community) were reported missing as they were following their livestock, which wandered off because of the storm. A total of 122 people have been found, but tragically 2 people in Sukhbaatar and Khentii provinces were found dead. There have been severe infrastructural damages, including the collapse of 22 electricity sub-stations, which caused power outage in several counties (19-22 May); it was later restored as of 24 May. Moreover, 149 households have faced with the complete loss of gers (yurt, traditional Mongolia circular, domed tent-like dwelling), and 288 gers with partial damages, partial damage to 283 constructed houses/buildings, complete and partial damage to 317 fences, and partial damage to 70 vehicles of herders and non-herders. The official figure for the total number of people affected by the storm is not final, but known number of affected people is roughly 5,100. The impact is mostly on shelters, livelihoods and health. The most affected provinces are Sukhbaatar, Khentii, Dornod provinces. As of 25 May 2023, the known livestock loss caused by the storm is significant (623,623 including 521,477 in Sukhbaatar, 107,695 in Khentii, and 1,451 in Dornod provinces). (IFRC, 30 May 2023)