Mongolia: Snowstorms - Apr 1993

Unseasonably low temperatures and heavy snowstorms continue in area of 150'000 square kilometres in Zavkhan, Gobi-Altai, Bayankhong or and Umno-Gobi provinces of western Mongolia since 14 March, resulting in up to 160 centimetres of snow on the ground. Snow not likely to melt before mid-May. Affected population of 100'000 persons lives up to 500 kilometres from provincial centres and large areas can still not be reached by road or even helicopter. First government estimates indicate so far losses of at least 5 human lives and 350,000 out of 1,500.000 heads of livestock. […] On 7 April 1993 the government of Mongolia requested the United Nations, through the United Nations Resident Co-Ordinator, to issue an appeal for international assistance. (UN DHA, 7 Apr 1993)

Further deterioration of the situation resulted from sharp drop of night temperatures reaching minus 25 to minus 40 degrees centigrade, covering the affected western area of Mongolia under a thick layer of ice. Access roads to remote areas remain blocked. Meteorologists do not expect substantial improvement of situation which they describe as worst in past half century. Government confirms loss of so far 7 human lives and 380'000 heads of livestock with information from most severely affected locations still not available. Total livestock loss alone is now estimated at USD 10,000,000. (UN DHA, 14 Apr 1993)

Temporary rise in temperature and resulting in partial thaw of snow was followed by sharp drop in temperatures. Affected areas are covered with thick sheet of ice which blocks access to any food for the 1.5 million heads of livestock in the affected areas. 700'000 heads equal nearly 50 percent of yaks, goats, sheep and cows are reported dead, resulting in loss of the only income of most of the population in the affected provinces. Information from remote areas still not fully available as some locations still remaining inaccessible. UN DHA, 26 Apr 1993)