Attachments
Highlights
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Mongolia is currently facing a severe Dzud. This slow-onset disaster is unique to Mongolia and results from summer droughts followed by heavy snowfalls and extreme cold, leading to insufficient grazing pastures and hence underfed animals resulting in increased livestock mortality.
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As of 30th December 2023, over 90% of the country has been affected by extreme Dzud conditions, with 160 soums across 20 provinces being identified as high-risk areas.
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Over 258,000 people, including 100,000 children (51,000 girls and 49,000 boys) are affected due to roads blocked by snow, preventing children from accessing vital health, nutrition, education and protective services. Herder families, who are most directly impacted by the Dzud, often have to leave their children in the care of relatives or at boarding schools, increasing protection risks and causing psychological stress.
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USD 500,000 out of the total USD 917,355 is urgently needed to meet the most critical and time-sensitive response needs, including ensuring that children and resume learning on 29th January 2024.
Situation in Numbers
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90% of the country has been affected.
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20 out of 21 provinces impacted.
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100,000 children affected (51,000 girls; 49,000 boys).
Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs
In December 2023 and early 2024, Mongolia experienced severe winter conditions known as dzud, leading to the death of 59,000 large cattle, with this number expected to increase further. The harsh weather, characterized by heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures, has affected over 258,000 people, including 100,000 children (51,000 girls and 49,000 boys), according to Save the Children. This is the second year in a row that the country has faced these severe conditions.
As of December 31, 2023, over 90% of the country was snow-covered. Snow covered pastures make it impossible for livestock to graze. The heavy snowfall has also closed roads and passes, hindering access to essential services such as health and education and disrupting supply chains for food, medicine, consumer goods, firewood, coal, hay and animal feed. With worsening conditions in 166 soums across 20 provinces, the demand for grass, animal feed, and fuel has increased, resulting in increasing prices. To mitigate the dzud risk, there is an urgent need to provide fuel for road clearing activities, to provide cash for herders, and to address some of the critical supply gaps.
To address this, the State Emergency Commission (SEC) under the leadership of the Deputy Prime Minister, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have established the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to facilitate a more well-coordinated response. A letter dated 12th January 2024 from H.E. Mr. Amarsaikhan, Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia and Chair of the State Emergency Commission, has requested cooperation from the United Nations Resident Coordinator to reduce the risk of Dzud.
Immediate needs for February to March 2024 include funding for road cleaning, medicines, radios to support remote learning, and support for child protection workers.