03.04.2024

Nearly 5 Million Animals Dead In Mongolia’s Harshest Winter

Mongolia is freezing through its harshest winter in half a century with extreme conditions killing more than 4.9 million animals and threatening the livelihoods and food supply of thousands of people, the International Federation of the Red Cross has warned. The severe conditions, known as dzud, are characterized by plunging temperatures and deep snow and ice that blanket grazing areas and cut off access to food for livestock. About 300,000 people in Mongolia are traditional nomadic herders and depend on their cattle, goats and horses for food and to sell at market. Since November, at least 2,250 herder families have lost more than 70% of their livestock, according to the IFRC. More than 7,000 families now lack access to adequate food, it added. The dzud has affected three-quarters of the country but conditions are expected to worsen as winter continues. The Mongolian government declared a state of heightened readiness last month that would last until May 15, and on Tuesday the IFRC launched an appeal for funds to alleviate the suffering of people who have lost their livelihoods. The dzud has had a devastating economic toll for herders and caused disruptions to travel, trade and access to healthcare and education for many Mongolians, especially those living in rural areas, as heavy snow cuts off road access. This year’s snowfall has been the highest in 49 years, covering 90% of the country at its peak in January, according to the World Health Organization. Temperatures had dropped to -30 degrees Celsius (-22 degrees Fahrenheit) or lower. That meant the pasture was poor so the animals couldn’t fatten themselves up before the winter, and herders couldn’t prepare enough hay to see them through. Now, Mongolia has been hit with a dual “white” and “iron” dzud, which means very deep snow is preventing animals from reaching grass, combined with a hard freeze that locks pasturelands in ice. Credit: DW