Mongolia - Snowstorms OCHA Situation Report No. 9

Ref. OCHA/GVA - 2000/0125
OCHA Situation Report No. 9
Mongolia - "Multiple Dzud"
18 July 2000

On 11 February 2000 the Government of Mongolia appealed to the international community for assistance. On 3 April 2000 the United Nations launched an Inter-Agency Appeal for USD 2,981,000 to assist herders affected by the "multiple dzud". Funds are still being sought to cover the needs outlined in the UN Appeal.

I. SITUATION

1. In 1999, the Mongolian population experienced their worst winter since 1968, as a result of a "multiple dzud". The current situation is the cumulative result of last summer's drought ("black dzud") and a winter that began in September with temperatures of minus 43C producing an impenetrable ice cap that covered huge parts of the landscape ("iron dzud") and repetitive heavy snowstorms ("white dzud") throughout the winter. Unusually hot and dry weather, with temperatures exceeding 35C through late May and early June, caused browning and growth retardation of fresh grass in dzud-affected and some non-dzud affected areas, giving rise to concerns of further drought. In addition, steppe fires that started in Russia in early February have since spread into Northern Mongolia affecting 24 "soums" (districts) in 9 "aimags" (provinces).

2. The current disaster has impacted approximately 500,000 people (19.1% of Mongolia's total population) in 13 of 21"aimags". The impacts from the "multiple dzud" have spread over the entire country with only the East and the "aimag" of Khovd spared. The worst affected "aimags" are Dundgobi, Uvurkhangai, Zavkhan, Uvs, Bayankhongor and Tuv.

3. According to the figures released by the State Emergency Commission (SEC), on 1 June 2000, 2,399,200 animals have died (7.3 percent of the total national livestock population). This is a significant loss in a country where animal husbandry represents more than 30 percent of the gross domestic product and on which one third of the population directly depends for food, transportation, heating material (animal dung) and purchasing power. This loss has directly resulted in severe socio-economic damage throughout the country.

4. Even without a further drought or "multiple dzud", it is expected that many families, particularly amongst the 2,369 families who have suffered a total loss of their livestock, will face shortage of food and heating material throughout the winter of 2000/2001. Furthermore, the carcasses of the decaying animals may contaminate the immediate environment and the nearby water resources posing a potential risk for cholera and other epidemics.

II. NATIONAL RESPONSE

5. The State Emergency Commission (SEC), the Mongolian government body responsible for coordinating the overall emergency response, started relief activities in December 1999 and completed its relief efforts on 1 May 2000. During the early stages of the disaster, the SEC used state-reserves of hay and husk supplies to mitigate the disaster. At the same time, it took concrete measures to ensure the immediate delivery of essential relief goods and to promote multi-level coordination in relief activities. Activities included regular updates to disaster information, sharing of disaster information with the United Nations system on a weekly basis, carrying out disaster and needs assessment missions, and mobilizing relief assistance nationally.

6. During the six-month relief operation, the SEC mobilized 20 trucks of relief goods and USD 400,000 from the international community, as well as USD 100,000 in cash and USD 700,000 in kind domestically. To prevent any outbreak of disease caused by the massive death of livestock and to protect against any further losses, the SEC organized a round table meeting in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and WHO. The most effective locally produced veterinary drugs were identified and 14 doctors were dispatched to provide services in affected areas over a three-month period. The SEC also made a documentary film on the impact of the "multiple dzud" for future public education on natural disasters.

7. Meanwhile, the Government of Mongolia has made more than TUG 650 million (approx. USD 600,000) available for the purchase of relief items.

III. INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

8. In response to the Mongolian Appeal for international Assistance of 11 February 2000, the United Nations Disaster Management Team (UN-DMT) in Ulaanbaatar, together with representatives of international aid agencies and NGOs, met with members of the Government on 18 February 2000 to share information and discuss future action.

9. The UN-DMT decided to field two disaster damage and needs assessment missions to the affected areas. The joint UNICEF and UNFPA mission was carried out on 24-27 February 2000 with the participation of a representative from the French Embassy. Another extended Inter-Agency Mission was fielded on 1-4 March, with the participation of UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA and OCHA, accompanied by representatives from the SEC as well as other national authorities. The UN-DMT/SEC assessment report was then issued on 9 March 2000.

10. On 3 April 2000 a UN-Inter Agency appeal for Mongolia "Dzud 2000"-An evolving Disaster- was launched under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator with the assistance of the OCHA Regional Disaster Response Advisor for Asia. The appeal requested USD 2,981,000 from the international community for urgent response to the Mongolian winter emergency.

11. The UN coordination activities at the country level include the central collation and dissemination of animal loss statistics, donor activities, the maintenance of a donation matrix, disaster development details, emergency relief reports from other organizations, the development of a web site containing this information. Further, the UN coordinated the organization of weekly information exchange meetings for emergency relief organizations (donors, NGOs) and interested parties, the weekly attendance and briefings to Mongolian Government emergency relief meetings, ensured close cooperation with SEC, IFRC and Mongolian Red Cross and the release of press statements, and reports to OCHA and donors.

12. The UN-DMT procured, delivered and monitored emergency relief supplies to 3,170 Herder families in 9 districts of 3 provinces at a value of USD 196,000 that were provided by and/or channeled through OCHA. In addition the UN-DMT is implementing projects with funds provided by New Zealand (rehabilitation gardening project in 6 "soums" of 2 "aimags"), the Netherlands and the UNDP for a total amount of USD 205,521.

13. The UNDP is presently organizing a "Lessons Learned" study, which will include inputs from the Mongolian Government (central, provincial, and local), the SEC, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) the Mongolian Red Cross, and NGOs that actively participated in relief activities, amongst others. Based on the findings of the study and of the government's current emergency procedures, the UNDP will draft disaster preparedness policy guidelines for submission to the Mongolian Government. Finally, the UNDP will prepare emergency preparedness guidelines for its own use to complement the emergency services of the Government.

14. FAO has recently released an appeal for USD 4,500,000 for provision of animal health inputs and animal feed to assist the restocking of severely affected households including vegetable gardening and water supply development; enhancement of household food security and livestock production through improvement to cereal production.

15. The IFRC issued its last revised appeal (5/2000) on 13 July 2000 to assist in Phase one (March to September) 35,000 beneficiaries in the 6 worst affected "aimags" with food (flour and millet/rice), and 2,827 households with winter boots. Under the supervision of the Delegate of IFRC, the Mongolian Red Cross is responsible for the implementation of the relief assistance. In order to reach beneficiaries and reinforce transparency and accountability, the Red Cross is conducting a radio program indicating where and how the various contributions were distributed. The program will operate regularly during the 12-month relief assistance period (March 2000-March 2001).

16. Rehabilitation programs have commenced by donor organizations and NGOs in the sectors of pastoral management, vegetable growing, alternative livelihoods, water supply, animal breeding quality, and vegetarian services to attempt the prevention of further disasters. However, these will need to be continued for some years before lasting rehabilitation can be achieved.

17. So far, 18 governments, including the European Commission and the World Bank have contributed emergency relief funds, either through UN agencies or via their embassies. In total, OCHA has recorded USD 7,410,964 of emergency funds that have been made available to assist Government relief efforts. However, more relief assistance in sectors of livestock, food security through agriculture, water supply and pastureland irrigation, nutrition, health, education, coordination and monitoring is required to prevent malnutrition of the most affected herders, particularly in view of an expected second harsh winter.

18. In response to the UN Inter-Agency Appeal, donors can make their contributions directly to the Mongolian Government or to relevant UN agencies. OCHA is ready to serve as a channel for un-earmarked contributions towards the activities identified in the Appeal. These will then be allocated by the UN-DMT in accordance with agreed to priorities. OCHA will provide written confirmation of their end use. Funds channeled through OCHA should be transferred to account no. CO-590.160.0, Swift code: UBSWCHZ12A at the UBS AG, P.O. Box 2770, CH-1211 Geneva 2, with reference: OCHA - Mongolia - Snowstorms.

19. For coordination purposes, donors are requested to inform OCHA Geneva, as indicated below, of bilateral relief missions/pledges/contributions and their corresponding values by item.

20. Any future updates on contributions to this disaster may be found by clicking on Financial Tracking at the top of the page for this disaster on the OCHA's Internet web site (http://www.reliefweb.int). Donors are requested to verify this table and inform OCHA Geneva of corrections/additions/values. Donors are encouraged to notify OCHA Geneva of their contributions to this disaster using the OCHA Standardized Contributions Recording Format, available electronically in the above-mentioned Financial Tracking Web site.

21. This situation report, together with further information on ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Web site at http://www.reliefweb.int as well as on the UNDMT Ulaanbaatar Web site at http://www.un-mongolia.mn/news/disaster/index.html

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