The total territory of Mongolia is experiencing severe coldness and snow storms along with harsh overwintering with the expectation for much colder weather. Last summer, over 70 percent of Mongolia’s territory experienced drought disaster but now 90 percent is covered with thick snow. Especially in rural areas, 10-35 cm in the steppe, 40-50 cm at the feet of mountains, 60-120 cm snowdrifts and average temperatures reacheing -32-40’C.

The Deputy Prime Minister and head of State Emergency Commission M. Enkhbold reported that 198 soums of 19 aimags suffer a dzud disaster (grassland is covered with icy snow so that animals have nothing to eat), of which 94 soums are in a really disastrous situation. During the period between September, 2009 and January 10, 2010, more than 453,000 head of livestock died, 89.2 percent of those that died were in Bayan-Olgii, Uvs, Khovd, Zavkhan, Gobi-Altai, Ovorkhangai, Dundgobi, Tov, Omnogobi and Khovsgol aimags.

Paths and mountain passes were blocked with snow in Uench, Bulgan and Altai Soums of Khovd Aimag and some soums of Gobi-Altai Aimag, Gants, Zagastai and Solongot Soums of Zavkhan Aimag and Gurvanbulag and Bayanbulag Soums of Bayankhongor Aimag and it has been impossible to pasture livestock in the frozen winter quarters. Due to deep snow and transhumance, herdsmen are in a weakened state of health and their livelihood is in peril.

The State Emergency Commission, Government and local administrations as well as emergency departments are taking immediate measures to clear the paths and mountain passes, search for missing people, deliver medical assistance to people and animals and distribute hay and fodder from the State reserve to distressed soums that have an insufficient supply and where it has been impossible to pasture animals. The State has a reserve of 14,000 tonne of hay and 16,000 tonne of fodder throughout the nation, and in accordance with the government resolution, 4,000 tonne of hay and 6,000 tonne of fodder have been sold. It cost Tgs900 million to distribute 2,000 tonne of hay to 7 aimags.

In consideration of the incapacity of herders to buy hay and fodder, although hay and fodder has been distributed to aimags and soums due to harsh overwintering, the Government made a resolution to sell hay and fodder at State reserve points in Bayan-Olgii, Zavkhan, Uvs, Khovd, Khovsgol, Gobi-Altai, Bayankhongor, Arkhangai, Ovorkhangai, Dundgobi, Omnogobi and Tov aimags at a 50 percent discounted price to herdsmen.

It was decided to fund Tgs1,088,370,000 (one billion, 88 million and 370 thousand) from the government reserve fund for a price discrepancy of 4,000 tonne of hay and 5,000 tonne of fodder to be sold at reduced price, cleaning local auto roads, delivering fodder to herdsmen, fuel of vehicles that are used in transporting social assistance to baghs (smallest administrative unit in localities). Also the SEC has decided to take measures to process 30,000 tonne of non-standard wheat to produce fodder, exchange the fodder with reserved meat at aimags and provide aimags with loans.

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Government prepares for dzud relief

On January 7, 2010, President Elbegdorj met with Prime Minister Batbold to provide certain directions for the work of Government during natural disaster situations.

In the coming days, the entire territory of Mongolia is likely to experience extreme cold temperatures. Due to recent heavy snowfall, over 70 percent of the country’s total territory is in dzud situation (dzud: heavy snowfall and blizzards).

The President urged the Prime Minister to effectively and timely organize a supply of fodder and hay to herders, and undertake necessary actions for protecting the livestock herds from possible losses and damage.
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Relevant ministers were given a duty to take immediate action to export herdsmen’s meat on hand to China and Russia and bring the coal reserve of thermal power stations to the required level. Thermal power stations in the capital city and bigger urban places should have a coal reserve sufficient for 14 days, but currently, the stations are unable to get coal and their reserve has decreased to just a 5-7 day supply because of the severe weather.

The Food, Agriculture and Light Industry Ministry put its request forward to relevant organizations to import hay and fodder from Russia.

Government and SEC are taking successive actions; however the cycle of this climatic catastrophe is increasing and the overwintering situation is worsening. Therefore, SEC appealed to the public to help herdsmen and opened an account for donations. Additionally, foreign countries and international organizations were sent information and requested to help Mongolia’s aimags through the harsh winter. Individuals and organizations have started donating assistance; one example is the State Clinic’s staff, who each donated one-day’s salary.

Mongolia’s Red Cross Society made an appeal to help herdsmen and requested the International Red Cross Society to send a research team to survey the overwintering conditions and render assistance.

The winter climate of Mongolia which is located 1,500 meters above sea level far from any ocean is mainly influenced by air current coming from the North Pole through Northwestern Siberia. ”Freezing air currents coming from Northwestern Siberia settles in the valleys of Mongolia’s high mountains as anticyclone in the form of a lake. It causes the basins of big rivers and lakes, and areas such as the Darkhad depression to suffer extreme cold. Air currents also come from the west, east and northeast. These cold air currents settle in Altai Mountain Ranges, Khangai Mountain Ranges and Khentii Mountain Ranges and cause Mongolia to have cold winters. Mongolia experiences cold winters with over -40’C because of the cold air current coming from northern pole through East Siberia. In recent days, temperatures dropped to -44-49, which were caused by these cold air currents,” said Meteorology and Hydrology Institute’s Secretary D.Jugder.

The institute warns that for most days in January, areas around Uvs Lake, Darkhad depression and basins of Ider, Tes, Buyant and Baidrag rivers will have nighttime temperatures of -44-49’C and daytime temperatures of -33-38’C. In the basins of Kharaa, Eroo, Orkhon, Tuul, Kherlen and Khalkh rivers the nighttime temperature will be -40-45’C and daytime temperature at -28-33’C. Nighttime temperatures in the Gobi area will be -23-28’C with daytime temperatures at -14-19’C. For other territories the nighttime temperatures will be -30-35’C with daytime temperatures of -24-29 C. This situation will last until April.

The account number for donations to herdsmen is: Xac Bank, 38th branch, 2100013

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