Approximately 60 percent of the country has been hit by drought, reports the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry. The drought situation is most severe in Khuvsgul and Tuv Province. In order to keep livestock alive over the coming winter, the ministry has ordered to increase the fodder reserve. 

To make matters worse, rodents and locusts are destroying crops and grass in 15 soums (districts) of Sukhbaatar province. As a result, the ministry has approved financing for fighting the locust swarms in 40 hectares area. 

The large number of forest fires which have struck Mongolia this year have largely been caused by irresponsible people,  but officials say that the drought has made the situation even worse. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has been actively fighting forest fires, backed by the army and civilian volunteers. According to NEMA, the majority of the wildfires have been put out.