U.S. Government Provides $200,000 to Respond to Mongolia’s Dzud

The U.S. government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing $200,000 (approximately 680 million MNT) through the Mongolian Red Cross Society to respond to the dzud. This funding will provide cash grants, fodder, and fuel to vulnerable Mongolian herder households.

This year’s dzud is among the worst in recent memory, with greater snowfall and extreme temperatures already impacting herder households in more than 50 percent of the country. Approximately 217,000 people are at high risk of losing their livestock and livelihoods.

“This dzud response builds on our ongoing work to help Mongolian communities better prepare for and respond to these events, and help them recover faster. As Mongolia’s strategic partner and third neighbor, we stand with the Mongolian people during this difficult time,” said U.S. Ambassador Richard Buangan.

USAID works year-round to strengthen Mongolia’s resilience against dzuds and other natural disasters. These disaster risk reduction programs include training and support for the Mongolian Red Cross Society, Incident Command System training with the National Emergency Management Agency, and capacity building for livestock disease surveillance.

The U.S. government, through USAID, has been helping vulnerable Mongolian communities to be more resilient to disasters and better able to handle their impacts. Since 2010, USAID has provided nearly $8 million to support disaster risk reduction programs in Mongolia.

The U.S. government continues to monitor the situation in Mongolia to examine more ways to assist the most vulnerable communities.