The Minister of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry recently met
with representatives of donor organizations and UN agencies and told them that
the Government was now better prepared to aid herders protect their animals
during the coming winter months. The forecast is that this year’s winter will
be even more severe than the last one, which devastated the herder economy.

Fodder and hay have been prepared and stored locally, so that they
can be reached without loss of time. Herders have also been told to make their
own arrangements to deal with any emergency. Deputy Prime Minister N.Enkhbold,
who also heads the National Emergency Commission, suggested the creation of a
permanent fund to meet the needs of such sudden natural disaster.