Dzud Response Project (2023)
In 2022-2023, 70 percent of Mongolia’s territory was affected by the Dzud disaster resulting in death of many livestock and threatening the livelihoods of herder households. Save the Children carried out a humanitarian emergency project to assist herders and their children in Khovd, Zavkhan, Gobi-Altai, Bayankhongor, and Tuv provinces, the places hit hardest by the dzud disaster. The project provided livestock fodder to 1,380 herder households and unconditional cash transfers to 1,230 herder families affected by dzud in 18 soums of Khovd, Zavkhan, Gobi-Altai, Bayankhongor, and Tuv provinces. Each family received 160 kg of livestock fodder and cash assistance of MNT 250,000-280,800. The humanitarian aid targeted herder families with fewer than 300 livestock in sheep head units who are highly vulnerable to the risks of dzud. Vulnerability considerations are taken into account, including the number of children, single-headed households, and elderly citizens. In addition, hygiene kits were distributed to 2,027 school children staying in dormitories in 25 soums of these five provinces. These kits contained items like toothpaste, toothbrushes, sanitary pads, soaps and towels, and other necessities. Each dormitory also received a set of learning tools, books, developmental game sets, and basic food supplies. Moreover, the children from the most vulnerable families received warm blankets and winter boots. The humanitarian emergency project was implemented with the funding of USD 323,800 with support of the START Fund of the UK, the humanitarian SEED Fund of Save the Children International, Save the Children Japan and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.