On Dec 26th, Mongolian parents gathered at Sukhbaatar Square in the capital to raise their voices against air pollution and for the well-being of children. Irate parents submitted their demands to the president, the government and the administration of Ulaanbaatar city.
Air pollution in Ulaanbaatar is five times worse than in Beijing, causing serious threats to the health of the people. In particular, it has become a major cause of childhood mortality. In 2015 alone, 435 children aged 0-5 died of pneumonia. Such a situation has prompted parents to bring their fight to the streets. Protestors’ demands include 15 points, including a report by January 15, 2017 on the funds allocated and works done over the past 15 years to combat air pollution, increasing accessibility to hospitals and installation of air purification equipment in every kindergarten of ger districts.
Ts.Purevkhuu, the organiser of the demonstration, said: “The government needs to admit that air pollution has reached disaster levels. We are outraged that the government is acting as if they know nothing about it while it has already reached such crisis levels. We demand that the government hold their next meeting in Bayankhoshuu, the most heavily polluted area in Ulaanbaatar. Today, there are about 7,000 pregnant women over there. We demand that the government meet with these people. We are protesting today because we don’t want to see any more parents lose their children.”
Air pollution poses not only a threat to the healthy, but also exacerbates the condition of the sick, especially children.
“My child was diagnosed with cancer in 2011 and received treatment in South Korea. We returned to Mongolia after the treatment was successful, but my child caught the flu after coming back to Ulaanbaatar. We went to the National Center for Maternal and Child Health of Mongolia, and the diagnosis was chronic anemia. There is no filtered blood in Mongolia. Thus, we went to South Korea again at the expense of KRW 9 million. We mothers are heartbroken as our children are dying not because of cancer, but from the flu. Quite a number of children have had successful treatment in South Korea, but they are dying from the flu after coming back here. This is a disaster that cannot be articulated in words,” said the crestfallen mother Sh.Budsuren with tears in her eyes.
“My grandchild got the flu and his ears started to hurt. He started vomiting due to all the different kinds of drugs. Now his liver is beginning to get damaged. I am afraid to take my grandchild outside and fear that he will develop chronic liver and lung diseases from an early age. I am heartbroken to see my grandchild like this,” said senior resident of Bayangol District T.Altantsetseg (75 years old).
“I have six grandchildren. I have been fighting against air pollution with everything I have for the sake of my grandchildren since 2012. My grandchildren are always ill. Not only children, but old people like us are feeling the effects of air pollution too. Chronic asthma is on the rise. We are spending what little we get as pension on medicine. I call on the young people to be unified and socially active for their children,” said elderly resident of Bayanzurkh District J.Chuluunbaatar (70 years old).
A father hugging his child was amongst the protesters.
“I have 5 children and 11 grandchildren. Air pollution is impacting not only our physical health but also our mental health. Men are angry and nervous, while the pregnant women do not step outside of the home. Foetuses suffocate in the womb, and premature births and miscarriages are rising. On top of that, psychological stresses negatively affect a foetus. I am participating in today's demonstration because I am worried for my children,” said resident of Chingeltei District N.Dudarii (68 years old).
“My daughter caught pneumonia recently. Hospitals have no beds. Now she is receiving treatment in a private hospital. More than MNT 100,000 was required on the first day for diagnosis and examination. Over the next few days we spent MNT 40-50,000 per day. Given that she needs to be treated in a hospital for 7-8 days, the costs are just piling up. But what other choice do we have for the sake of our children? Now I see that it has become impossible to live in Ulaanbaatar. I must give credit to the doctors, but it is difficult because hospitals’ capacities are insufficient,” stressed S.Gantumur.
Such are the thoughts of parents. Yet, the government is stilling about the same old “smokeless furnaces.” Instead of that empty discussion, if they could have found a way to increase accessibility to hospitals and treatment, perhaps some lives could have been saved.
M.Bilguun
On Dec 26th, Mongolian parents gathered at Sukhbaatar Square in the capital to raise their voices against air pollution and for the well-being of children. Irate parents submitted their demands to the president, the government and the administration of Ulaanbaatar city.
Air pollution in Ulaanbaatar is five times worse than in Beijing, causing serious threats to the health of the people. In particular, it has become a major cause of childhood mortality. In 2015 alone, 435 children aged 0-5 died of pneumonia. Such a situation has prompted parents to bring their fight to the streets. Protestors’ demands include 15 points, including a report by January 15, 2017 on the funds allocated and works done over the past 15 years to combat air pollution, increasing accessibility to hospitals and installation of air purification equipment in every kindergarten of ger districts.
Ts.Purevkhuu, the organiser of the demonstration, said: “The government needs to admit that air pollution has reached disaster levels. We are outraged that the government is acting as if they know nothing about it while it has already reached such crisis levels. We demand that the government hold their next meeting in Bayankhoshuu, the most heavily polluted area in Ulaanbaatar. Today, there are about 7,000 pregnant women over there. We demand that the government meet with these people. We are protesting today because we don’t want to see any more parents lose their children.”
Air pollution poses not only a threat to the healthy, but also exacerbates the condition of the sick, especially children.
“My child was diagnosed with cancer in 2011 and received treatment in South Korea. We returned to Mongolia after the treatment was successful, but my child caught the flu after coming back to Ulaanbaatar. We went to the National Center for Maternal and Child Health of Mongolia, and the diagnosis was chronic anemia. There is no filtered blood in Mongolia. Thus, we went to South Korea again at the expense of KRW 9 million. We mothers are heartbroken as our children are dying not because of cancer, but from the flu. Quite a number of children have had successful treatment in South Korea, but they are dying from the flu after coming back here. This is a disaster that cannot be articulated in words,” said the crestfallen mother Sh.Budsuren with tears in her eyes.
“My grandchild got the flu and his ears started to hurt. He started vomiting due to all the different kinds of drugs. Now his liver is beginning to get damaged. I am afraid to take my grandchild outside and fear that he will develop chronic liver and lung diseases from an early age. I am heartbroken to see my grandchild like this,” said senior resident of Bayangol District T.Altantsetseg (75 years old).
“I have six grandchildren. I have been fighting against air pollution with everything I have for the sake of my grandchildren since 2012. My grandchildren are always ill. Not only children, but old people like us are feeling the effects of air pollution too. Chronic asthma is on the rise. We are spending what little we get as pension on medicine. I call on the young people to be unified and socially active for their children,” said elderly resident of Bayanzurkh District J.Chuluunbaatar (70 years old).
A father hugging his child was amongst the protesters.
“I have 5 children and 11 grandchildren. Air pollution is impacting not only our physical health but also our mental health. Men are angry and nervous, while the pregnant women do not step outside of the home. Foetuses suffocate in the womb, and premature births and miscarriages are rising. On top of that, psychological stresses negatively affect a foetus. I am participating in today's demonstration because I am worried for my children,” said resident of Chingeltei District N.Dudarii (68 years old).
“My daughter caught pneumonia recently. Hospitals have no beds. Now she is receiving treatment in a private hospital. More than MNT 100,000 was required on the first day for diagnosis and examination. Over the next few days we spent MNT 40-50,000 per day. Given that she needs to be treated in a hospital for 7-8 days, the costs are just piling up. But what other choice do we have for the sake of our children? Now I see that it has become impossible to live in Ulaanbaatar. I must give credit to the doctors, but it is difficult because hospitals’ capacities are insufficient,” stressed S.Gantumur.
Such are the thoughts of parents. Yet, the government is stilling about the same old “smokeless furnaces.” Instead of that empty discussion, if they could have found a way to increase accessibility to hospitals and treatment, perhaps some lives could have been saved.
M.Bilguun