Mongolia is enduring its most severe winter in nearly half a century, killing more than 4.7 million animals and threatening the livelihoods of thousands of people, the International Federation of the Red Cross has said.
Since November last year, CNN reported, extreme weather has now enveloped 76% of the nation in White Dzud and Iron Dzud conditions, the agency said in a statement.
These conditions cover grazing areas with deep snow and ice, critically limiting access to food for livestock.
The livelihoods of herders, who depend on cattle, goats, and horses, are under severe threat.
According to the assessment by the Emergency Operation Centre, this crisis is to be twice as severe as last year’s Dzud.
It predicts an impact greater than the significant 2010 Dzud event, which resulted in the loss of 10.3 million livestock and affected 28% of Mongolia’s population. The crisis disproportionately affects herders with smaller herds, who face significant recovery challenges.
Over 7,000 families now lack adequate food, and heavy snowfall has buried more than 1,000 herder households’ gers (traditional homes) and shelters.
To date, 2,257 herder families have lost over 70% of their livestock, with thousands more needing basic health services, fuel, and coal.
