In connection with the wintering and spring conditions, specific duties and directions were given to the governors of all 21 provinces and to the provincial Emergency Commissions. During this time, Deputy Prime Minister Kh.Gankhuyag instructed local leaders to promptly implement appropriate response measures in line with the current situation.
He emphasized that the Government of Mongolia and the State Emergency Commission must pay special attention to ensuring the uninterrupted and timely delivery of healthcare and other essential public services to herders and citizens. He also directed local authorities to intensify preventive actions aimed at reducing potential risks arising from the difficult winter and spring conditions and to implement measures that would help overcome challenges with minimal hardship.
Under decisions made by the government and the State Emergency Commission, equipment, supplies, and livestock feed were allocated from the state reserve to provincial and soum health centers, governor’s offices, and local branches of emergency management agencies. This support included 20 high-mobility vehicles, two motor graders designated for provinces and soums where heavy snowfall had blocked roads and mountain passes, five loaders, 796 tonnes of hay, 8,154 tonnes of animal feed, and 50 tonnes of fuel, all distributed to the provinces from the state reserve.
These resources are expected to play a vital role in reopening blocked roads and mountain passes in areas facing severe winter and spring conditions, delivering assistance and services to herders, and reducing transportation and logistical difficulties.
According to the zud risk assessment, provinces in the western, central, and Khangai regions classified as facing very high or high risk have been monitored by a working group from the State Emergency Commission since November, with teams conducting on-site assessments and implementing necessary response measures.
Although parts of the western and central provinces experienced drought last summer while some other regions had relatively favorable pasture conditions, heavy snowfall during the winter season led to approximately 50 percent of the country’s territory being assessed as at high risk of zud. Nevertheless, officials reported that coordinated preventive measures undertaken by the Government of Mongolia, the State Emergency Commission, provincial and soum emergency commissions, as well as herders and local residents, have helped reduce the overall zud risk to some extent.
Moving forward, local authorities will continue to closely monitor weather developments, promptly provide necessary assistance to herders, and sustain efforts to ensure that wintering and spring conditions are managed with as little difficulty as possible.
