World Vision Singapore commits US$10,000 to aid in Uvs disaster in Mongolia

In Mongolia, the climate is very extreme, and the country often experiences unusually chilly winters that decimate the livestock and devastate the livelihoods of many families.

This year, however, was colder than usual, with temperatures dipping to as low as minus 31° Celsius. The bitter winter has caused 74,106 livestock to die from the cold, and affected more than 23,300 people. More than 5,000 households are in critical need of food, and their animals, of hay and fodder.

Animals are dying daily, and children are in need of food and medicines. Large families, with elderly people or disabled persons, are also suffering because they are incapable of travelling to another soum (province) to escape the biting cold.

Large numbers of nomadic herders are left vulnerable as their livestock, which they depend on as their sole source of income and survival, are threatened by the freezing temperatures.

World Vision Singapore has responded by contributing US$10,000 to curb this disaster in Uvs, Mongolia, and to help those who are severely affected by providing them with emergency food, clothing, heating, as well fodder for the animals.

Provisions that are needed by and distributed to the most vulnerable victims include:

• 180 tonnes of wheat flour and rice for 5,463 affected people;
• 595 tonnes of hay and 625 tonnes of fodder for 1,831 households;
• Heating system for 1,831 households;
• Medical support and supplies for 6,400 people; and
• Warm clothing for 5,463 people.

The Uvurkhangai Area Development Programme, which is supported by child sponsors in Singapore, is not affected by this disaster.