The International Organization for
Migration (IOM) is now in Ulaanbaatar making preparations to conduct a wide
ranging Emergency Displacement Assessment following the migration of thousands
of nomadic Mongolians to urban centers, mainly the capital, after they lost
most of their animals because of climatic inclemency. IOM has planned the
assessment in partnership with UNICEF.

Bruce Reed, IOM’s regional
representative for East Asia, has said even before the dzud-induced heavy
increase, the migration has been steady for a decade or so, and the planned
assessment will give “a clearer picture of the strain this is putting on the
urban centers’ infrastructure and key services, including shelter, health and
education”.

Over years of working with people displaced by emergencies in various parts of
the world, the IOM has developed its own tools to collect targeted data, and to
identify service delivery gaps in life-saving areas like shelter, disease
control, safe water supply, and sanitation. The assessment, to begin after four
weeks of preparatory work, will recommend mid- and long-term assistance
measures to address the needs of the most vulnerable section of the migrants –
the elderly, women, and children.