Finnish Red Cross helps those suffering from cold wave in Mongolia

This winter, the nomads of Mongolia are suffering from a particularly difficult cold wave, which is referred to as dzud. It is a recurring weather phenomenon, which prevents grazing and causes mass deaths of livestock.

The conditions this winter have been the most gruelling in the past 50 years: 76 per cent of the land is covered in ice or snow that prevents grazing, and 7 per cent of the country’s livestock has perished. An estimated 186,000 nomad families, i.e. 75 per cent of all nomad families, are directly or indirectly suffering from the impacts of dzud.

Money from the Disaster Relief Fund is channelled towards local assistance provided by the Mongolian Red Cross Society. The aid operation of the International Red Cross strives to help 10,000 nomad families that have suffered most from the impacts of the cold.

Among other purposes, the money from the Disaster Relief Fund is used for improving food security by increasing cash and material aid, which includes animal care packages and winter shelters for livestock. The diversification of livelihoods is also being supported.

“The Mongolian Red Cross Society has been helping those suffering from the effects of the cold locally since November. That said, the conditions in the area are difficult enough to warrant added assistance. Particularly vulnerable are people who have lost their livelihoods, single parents, pregnant women, elderly people and families with many children,” says International Aid Planning Officer Sari Autio.

The Mongolian Red Cross Society provides psychosocial support to those suffering from the impacts of the cold.

Psychosocial support for those who have lost their livelihoods

For many who live in the remote areas of Mongolia, livestock farming is the only possible livelihood. Losing it causes challenges with mental health, in addition to compromised food security.

“Those who have lost their livelihood are anxious and fearful of the future. Many are concerned about taking care of their children. The Mongolian Red Cross Society provides psychosocial support to those suffering from the impacts of the cold,” Autio says.

We are channelling funding towards the International Red Cross’ aid operation. A regional preparedness aid worker is taking part in the monitoring of the operation.