Mongolia is freezing during its worst winter in 50 years and the extreme conditions have killed more than 4.7 million animals. The International Federation of the Red Cross poses a serious threat to the livelihood and food supply of thousands of families.
Dzud conditions Dzud is known for harsh conditions, mostly cold temperatures and deep snow and ice that cover pastures and cut off access to food for livestock. Nomadic pastoralists in Mongolia About 300,000 people in Mongolia are traditional nomadic pastoralists and depend on their cattle, goats, and horses for food and market sales.
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Alexander Matheou, the IFRC’s regional director for Asia and the Pacific, told CNN on Thursday: “People who are completely dependent on their livestock for survival have been thrown out of poverty in a matter of months. Some of them are no longer able to feed themselves or heat their homes.”
According to the IFRC, at least 2,250 pastoralist families have lost more than 70% of their livestock since November, and more than 7,000 families now lack access to adequate food. Dzud has affected three-quarters of the country, but conditions are expected to worsen as winter continues.