On Saturday (28th of January), thousands of Mongolians demonstrated in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, calling for the government to take action on air pollution. Protesters, some wearing face masks and holding black balloons, gathered as temperatures fell to -22C.

Ts.Purevkhuu, one of organisers said last week: ‘The number of participants is important in this demonstration which is why we are collecting ten thousand signatures supporting a letter containing demands to three Mongolian leaders namely, the President, the Prime Minister and the Speaker of Parliament . The organisers did not achieve the expected target, nonetheless, five thousand parents gathered on Sukhbaatar Square for the demonstration braving the smog on the coldest day in January.

A month ago, (26th of December) parents marched for the first time. The demonstration was orgainsed by ‘Mothers Against Air Pollution’ and a letter containing their demands was presented to Mongolian government officials.

According to a UNICEF report, over 400 children under the age of five die in Mongolia due to causes related to air pollution. The Ulaanbaatar City Administration is predicted that air pollution will decrease by 2030; this, of course means that around 7000 children will die by that date unless the air pollution problem is solved in Ulaanbaatar.