CERF helps people weather the dzud

Mongolia | 2024 | CERF

Mongolia. Mongolia experienced one of its harshest winters in fifty years over 2023-2024. The dzud disaster, coupled with severe animal disease outbreaks, posed a grave threat to the many thousands of people here who depend on their animals to survive and for income.

Although herders tried their best to prepare for hardships in winter, many weren’t able to save hay and fodder for their livestock due to drought in the summer, which caused pasture degradation and higher prices.

Many herders suffered heavy losses.

By the end of March 2024, an estimated 10 per cent of the national herd – 6.6 million animals -had died because of the extreme cold. But for individual families, it was often much worse.

For instance, Mr. Kh.Tumurbaatar, a herder from the village of Doit in Ugiinuur sub-district lost around a quarter of his 200 animals. Mr. Myagmar, who owned more than 1,000 animals – reported that by midwinter, about 70 per cent of his animals had died. 

The revised Mongolia Dzud Response Plan, launched on 25 March 2024, identified 76,700 people as the most vulnerable, mostly herders like Mssrs Tumurbaatar and Myagbar who depend entirely on livestock for their livelihoods.

CERF funding is helping the most vulnerable people get enough food for themselves and their livestock, as well as support with nutrition, education and protection.

Includes information from an original story from the United Nations in Mongolia: https://mongolia.un.org/en/228069-humanitarian-country-team-mongolia-helped-herders-affected-dzud

More information on the 2024 Dzud allocation

More information on the new CERF Climate Action Account