UNICEF urges to help children affected by severe winter

UNICEF Mongolia team has visited remote western soums of Davst, Turgen, Altai, Uench, Bulgan in Uvs and Khovd provinces to assess the winter conditions and deliver assistance on the ground.

The communities are hard hit by severe winter known as dzud because of unusual cold temperatures and frequent snowfall compared to previous years. In some parts, snow reached up to 1 meter deep. Even though, the communities and the local government have been preparing before winter, they did not expect such extreme conditions. According to the herders, last summer has been dry with little grass which led to severe winter this year and many animals have died in freezing cold.

Although the local authorities have been helping the herders in remote areas, there is still a need for cars and fuel to deliver health services as well as essential vitamins and medicines and fodder for animals.

In addition, many roads have been closed due to heavy snowfall which could make it difficult for many children to go back to school next week. There are over 2200 school age children who could miss school in only 5 soums that UNICEF team visited.

“Children and pregnant women are most vulnerable during natural disasters and emergencies. That is why we must take of them first. Earlier we reach them, less is the impact. We can not lose time” says Evariste Kouassi-Komlan, UNICEF Mongolia Representative.