United Nations agencies and
partner humanitarian organizations on Wednesday requested more than USD 18
million to assist nearly 800,000 people in Mongolia who are suffering from the
combined effects of a long, severe winter and a preceding harsh summer drought.

The dzud – a complex, natural disaster in which a summer
drought is followed by heavy snowfalls and unusually low temperatures in
winter, and then by a dangerous spring thaw – has destroyed the livelihoods of
nearly 9,000 Mongolian families, who rely on their livestock for income, food
and fuel.

More than 7.5 million animals, over 17 per cent of the country”s total
livestock head, have died, according to humanitarian agencies.

Fifteen of Mongolia“s
21 provinces, home to an estimated 769,000 people, or 28 per cent of the
population, have been declared disaster zones. Another four provinces are seriously
affected, prompting the Mongolian Government to seek international assistance,
hence the launch of the Consolidated Appeal (CAP).

“Unlike sudden onset emergencies, the dzud has evolved slowly and has
progressively widened its geographical reach, forcing ever-growing numbers of
people in rural areas into a battle for basic survival,” said Rana
Flowers, acting UN Resident Coordinator for Mongolia.

Humanitarian agencies have reported a spike of up to 40 per cent in the
mortality of children under the age of five in dzud-affected areas, an
indicator of the seriousness of the emergency.

Increased acute and chronic malnutrition, micro-nutrient deficiencies among
pregnant women, a lack of access to health care, widespread food insecurity,
the loss of livelihoods and severe psychological trauma among herders and their
families are also being seen, according to the UN humanitarian country team in
Mongolia.

Many of those affected have been forced to seek alternate employment and are
migrating to already overcrowded urban surroundings that lack basic services.

“While important short-term support has already been delivered, the
situation is evolving and the needs of the population will grow over the coming
months,” said Flowers.

UN agencies in Mongolia,
in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency and Government
ministries, plan to help build national capacity for disaster preparedness and
response to avert shocks of the current magnitude in future.

“It is important that the victims of the dzud, mainly nomadic people
living in remote regions, are not forgotten now that widespread media attention
from the start of the disaster has faded while the impacts have only
increased,” Flowers added. “The support of the international community
remains essential to stem the growing mortality and improve the humanitarian
plight of this vulnerable population,” she said.

Donors have to date contributed more than USD 1.3 million for the Mongolian
emergency, leaving a deficit of USD 16.7 million of the funds required for
effective response.