In February of this year, Mongolia experienced a harsh dzud disaster, a phenomenon not seen in the last 50 years, resulting in the loss of approximately 5.9 million livestock. International organizations and the private sector have joined forces to provide donations and assistance to over 17,000 families impacted by the dzud.
We had an interview with Mr. Evariste Kouassi-Komlan, the UNICEF Representative to Mongolia, regarding the assistance provided by UNICEF to herding households affected by the dzud.
-What approaches is UNICEF Mongolia taking to support the herding households and children who were affected by dzud?
-In November 2023, we received a prediction that a dzud was likely to occur in 2024. Consequently, in January, we conducted assessments in seven provinces to evaluate the situation and the level of preparedness. We engaged with local governors to identify ways in which we could offer assistance. Based on these assessments, our initial focus was on clearing roads, as families trapped by the dzud would be unable to access medical services and their children would be unable to attend school. Therefore, we provided fuel, food, and other essential supplies to herder families.
Our interventions span various sectors including health, education, and child protection. We distributed hygiene kits containing essential items such as toilet paper, soap, and toothbrushes to families in need. Additionally, we prepared emergency medical kits and delivered them to the soum hospitals so that herders could access necessary medications without any charge. Furthermore, we equipped schools and dormitories with digital radios and tablets to ensure that children could continue their education despite the challenging circumstances.
-How important is the role of international organizations in overcoming the challenges posed by dzud?
-Since the occurrence of the dzud, the government has requested support from the entire UN community to aid in interventions. The UN issued the first appeal to call for more international support. We have been providing assistance in the form of food, medicine, and education. The loss of almost 6 million animals, accounting for nearly 9.2 percent of the total livestock, is a huge number.
This not only impacts the economy but also has broader implications for the country. During such difficult times, it's crucial for entities like the UN and UNICEF to stand by herding households and offer support.
-You have mentioned that you assessed herders’ preparedness. Could you elaborate on their level of preparedness?
-The level of preparedness among herders was minimal. We didn't expect the severity of the snowfall experienced this year. As a result, while there were some preparations in place suitable for a certain level of dzud, they proved insufficient for the scale of the challenge we faced. This underscores the importance of support from authorities at various levels.
-How crucial is UNICEF Mongolia's involvement in enhancing herders' preparedness and mitigating dzud risks?
-Approximately 4000 of all herders who have been affected by the dzud, lost more than 70 percent of their livestock. To prevent future devastation, proactive measures are essential. This includes providing better shelter for animals and ensuring an adequate supply of food and hay for extended periods.
While these efforts may not completely resolve the issue by the next dzud, they will have a significant long-term impact.
-What are the plans for approaches that UNICEF Mongolia is considering?
-We are relieved to see the gradual improvement in temperatures, signaling the easing of the dzud situation, which is a positive development. However, the impact on the people, especially the herders themselves and their children, remains substantial. In discussions with several governors, it became evident that many are suffering from high blood pressure and kidney diseases. Additionally, children are facing nutritional deficiencies and other health-related issues are arising.
Therefore, our forthcoming interventions will primarily focus on addressing these health-related challenges. We intend to collaborate with local governors and health centers to reach out to herder communities, providing health check-ups and essential medications. Recognizing that some herders may have lost everything and are contemplating migration to Ulaanbaatar, we are engaging with the city municipality to address their needs.
This week, we are dispatching aid, including vitamins and food, to Sukhbaatar and Khentii provinces to assist those in need. Furthermore, we are planning to organize summer classes for children who were unable to attend school during the dzud crisis, and we are discussing this matter with the Ministry of Education.
-Could you detail the interventions undertaken by UNICEF Mongolia to assist herding households during last year's dzud?
-Last year, we provided assistance to 440 households across two provinces impacted by the dzud. Our support included cash transfers, hygiene kits, and emergency supplies. Since we initiated our support early in January, the losses incurred by households were relatively limited. However, the severity of this year's dzud led to a significant increase in herders' losses.
In February of this year, Mongolia experienced a harsh dzud disaster, a phenomenon not seen in the last 50 years, resulting in the loss of approximately 5.9 million livestock. International organizations and the private sector have joined forces to provide donations and assistance to over 17,000 families impacted by the dzud.
We had an interview with Mr. Evariste Kouassi-Komlan, the UNICEF Representative to Mongolia, regarding the assistance provided by UNICEF to herding households affected by the dzud.
-What approaches is UNICEF Mongolia taking to support the herding households and children who were affected by dzud?
-In November 2023, we received a prediction that a dzud was likely to occur in 2024. Consequently, in January, we conducted assessments in seven provinces to evaluate the situation and the level of preparedness. We engaged with local governors to identify ways in which we could offer assistance. Based on these assessments, our initial focus was on clearing roads, as families trapped by the dzud would be unable to access medical services and their children would be unable to attend school. Therefore, we provided fuel, food, and other essential supplies to herder families.
Our interventions span various sectors including health, education, and child protection. We distributed hygiene kits containing essential items such as toilet paper, soap, and toothbrushes to families in need. Additionally, we prepared emergency medical kits and delivered them to the soum hospitals so that herders could access necessary medications without any charge. Furthermore, we equipped schools and dormitories with digital radios and tablets to ensure that children could continue their education despite the challenging circumstances.
-How important is the role of international organizations in overcoming the challenges posed by dzud?
-Since the occurrence of the dzud, the government has requested support from the entire UN community to aid in interventions. The UN issued the first appeal to call for more international support. We have been providing assistance in the form of food, medicine, and education. The loss of almost 6 million animals, accounting for nearly 9.2 percent of the total livestock, is a huge number.
This not only impacts the economy but also has broader implications for the country. During such difficult times, it's crucial for entities like the UN and UNICEF to stand by herding households and offer support.
-You have mentioned that you assessed herders’ preparedness. Could you elaborate on their level of preparedness?
-The level of preparedness among herders was minimal. We didn't expect the severity of the snowfall experienced this year. As a result, while there were some preparations in place suitable for a certain level of dzud, they proved insufficient for the scale of the challenge we faced. This underscores the importance of support from authorities at various levels.
-How crucial is UNICEF Mongolia's involvement in enhancing herders' preparedness and mitigating dzud risks?
-Approximately 4000 of all herders who have been affected by the dzud, lost more than 70 percent of their livestock. To prevent future devastation, proactive measures are essential. This includes providing better shelter for animals and ensuring an adequate supply of food and hay for extended periods.
While these efforts may not completely resolve the issue by the next dzud, they will have a significant long-term impact.
-What are the plans for approaches that UNICEF Mongolia is considering?
-We are relieved to see the gradual improvement in temperatures, signaling the easing of the dzud situation, which is a positive development. However, the impact on the people, especially the herders themselves and their children, remains substantial. In discussions with several governors, it became evident that many are suffering from high blood pressure and kidney diseases. Additionally, children are facing nutritional deficiencies and other health-related issues are arising.
Therefore, our forthcoming interventions will primarily focus on addressing these health-related challenges. We intend to collaborate with local governors and health centers to reach out to herder communities, providing health check-ups and essential medications. Recognizing that some herders may have lost everything and are contemplating migration to Ulaanbaatar, we are engaging with the city municipality to address their needs.
This week, we are dispatching aid, including vitamins and food, to Sukhbaatar and Khentii provinces to assist those in need. Furthermore, we are planning to organize summer classes for children who were unable to attend school during the dzud crisis, and we are discussing this matter with the Ministry of Education.
-Could you detail the interventions undertaken by UNICEF Mongolia to assist herding households during last year's dzud?
-Last year, we provided assistance to 440 households across two provinces impacted by the dzud. Our support included cash transfers, hygiene kits, and emergency supplies. Since we initiated our support early in January, the losses incurred by households were relatively limited. However, the severity of this year's dzud led to a significant increase in herders' losses.
