Summary
At the end of April, nightly temperatures were around 0 degrees Celsius in the north-western part of Mongolia and several degrees higher during the day. At the same time the provinces of Bayan-Ulgii, Uvs, Govi-Altai, Zavkhan, Khuvsgul, Arkhangai, Uvurkhangai, Bulgan, Orkhon, Selenge, Darkhan-Uul, Tuv, Khentii, Dornod and Dundgovi had various levels of precipitation and heavy storm.
According to official government figures, the number of soums (districts) affected by dzud (extreme winter conditions) had decreased considerably during the reporting period. At the end of April there were dzud conditions in 62 soums in 17 provinces and 51 soums in 15 provinces were close to having dzud conditions.
At the end of April, the Government of Mongolia had allocated MNT 7.3 billion (about CHF 3.5 million) to the dzud response, mainly for the maintenance of infrastructure and the purchase and distribution of hay and fodder. While the weather is improving, herders do not have enough cash to buy basic necessities or hay and fodder for their livestock. At the end of this reporting period 858,100 animals had died because of the dzud.
The Mongolian Red Cross Society (MRCS) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) have assisted a total of 1,767 households in the eight most affected provinces during the reporting period. Up to 3,600 households in nine other dzud affected provinces were being registered and will receive unconditional cash grants and food parcels. During this time, MRCS has been preparing to implement psychosocial support to reach 5,000 dzud affected school children who are living in dormitories away from their parents.
As the operation moves into recovery phase in the coming months and with the evolving situation being monitored, a revision of the budget and plan being considered.