Mongolian herders move to cities as snowstorms kill livestock

[FarCenter]

10:50, January 31, 2010

Snowstorms battering Mongolia since late 2009 have devastated livestock numbers, forcing herders to migrate to urban areas in search of work.

The cold snap and heavy snow have killed more than one million livestock, the herders' main source of income, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

The bad weather also has reduced food security, intensified poverty and increased domestic rural-urban migration of many families.

Central Dundgobi province is one of those in the grip of a dzud, or natural disaster, and its herders are feeling the effects.

"Every morning five to 10 animals are dying," said Javzmaa Batbold, a herder in Adaatsag county, Dundgobi province. "Out of 500 livestock, about 120 have died due to the extreme cold weather and shortage of food."

"I don't know what future is waiting for our family if all our livestock die," said Batbold, a father of two children. "We are doing our best to save our animals, which are the only source of livelihood. Continuous snow blizzards are killing our livestock."

His ger (a traditional Mongolian dwelling) was completely covered with snow, with only the door side cleared to reveal a dwelling lay underneath.

Due to the plunge of temperatures from late 2009, 80 percent of Mongolia's territory is covered by snow, with depths of 20-90 centimeters.
<SNIP>http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/6883420.html

[aquart]

1. Climate change kills our food then kills our people.

Coming a lot faster than they were hoping.

[fallingrock666]

2. K & R