Journalists from the Republic of Korea report on the effects of the climate crisis on the lives of nomadic herders

Journalists from MBC, one of the leading South Korean television and radio broadcasters and media professionals from Save the Children Korea visit Mongolia from 20th to 26th October 2024 to familiarize themselves with the activities of Save the Children and engage in discussions with herders to report on how climate change and extreme weather events such as drought, flood and dzud affect their daily lives. The journalists work in Sukhbaatar province’s Khalzan and Sukhbaatar soums, Nalaikh district and Ulaanbaatar city to get deeper insights on how herders cope with changing weather and respond to climate crisis.

L.Bayan-Altai, Country Manager and Representative of Save the Children in Mongolia, shared the significance of this visit: “In the Nalaikh district, we are implementing a project focused on establishing forest groves and educating citizens, particularly children, about ecology and climate change, with support from Save the Children Korea. This visit allows MBC journalists to witness our efforts firsthand and understand how climate change is impacting the livelihoods of Mongolian herders and children, while also seeing the responses we are putting in place.”

Sukhbaatar province, which experienced one of the harshest winters in recent years, was selected as a key site for the visit. The MBC team will meet with herders and families who have participated in Save the Children’s Dzud Response and Restocking projects. They will gain insights into the day-to-day challenges these communities face and will interview herder children, local teachers, and community leaders to better understand their perspectives.

The content to be produced by the journalists will not only highlight Save the Children’s initiatives in Mongolia but will also bring greater awareness to the global impact of climate change. It will particularly focus on how natural disasters threaten the lives of nomadic herders and how these communities are adapting to such challenges. This press trip is a collaborative effort between Save the Children Korea and Save the Children Mongolia.

Since decades, Save the Children has been implementing both development and humanitarian projects for children in Mongolia. The organization has raised critical funds for emergency relief in response to disasters such as dzud, sandstorm, floods and droughts, providing essential support to affected families and herders. As children are especially vulnerable to both natural and human-caused crises, Save the Children’s humanitarian assistance programs are dedicated to delivering timely, high-quality aid to these children and their families, while also helping them prepare for future disasters.