Mongolia
Emergency Response to Sandstorm in Mongolia
Japanese
Damaged ger ©Dundgovi Provincial Office
Damaged ger 2 ©Dundgovi Provincial Office
House caught in a sandstorm ©Dundgovi Provincial Office
Damaged roof of a house ©Dundgovi Provincial Office
Livestock killed in sandstorm ©Dundgovi Provincial Office
Providing Housing and Other Support for those affected by Sandstorm in Mongolia
September 2021
Save the Children Japan (SCJ), a JPF member NGO, has been providing support to those affected by the sandstorm that hit Mongolia in mid-March.
After the selection of beneficiaries, SCJ has started distributing gers (mobile houses) and hygiene products, which are important to prevent new coronavirus infections.
Helping People Affected by Sandstorms in Mongolia
August 2021
Save the Children Japan (SCJ), a JPF member NGO, is providing support to sandstorm victims in Mongolia.
In order to provide gers (mobile homes), hygiene kits, and cash transfers to support livelihoods, SCJ is preparing to identify beneficiaries who are in need of more support, and checked the quality of the gers to be distributed by visiting the factories of procurement companies. SCJ is also preparing pamphlets to provide information on psychological first aid (PFA) for children. The pamphlet will include information on how parents and caregivers can help children who are suffering from psychological burdens caused by this disaster.
SCJ Provides Support to Those affected by the Sandstorm
18th July 2021 19:00
Save the Children Japan (SCJ), a JPF member NGO, is providing support to the victims of the sandstorm that hit Mongolia in mid-March.
The gers (mobile homes) of nomadic households were severely damaged by the sandstorm, and securing safe housing is an urgent issue. In addition, many households have lost their livestock, which was an important source of income, and have difficulty in obtaining hygiene products to prevent infectious diseases such as the coronavirus.
SCJ will be distributing gers and hygiene kits, and provide cash support.
In addition, SCJ will provide information on Psychological First Aid for Children (PFA) for children who are suffering from psychosocial burdens such as difficulty sleeping at night and feeling isolated due to stress caused by the disaster.
Support for those affected by Mongolian Sandstorm
23rd June 2021 19:28
The sand storm that occurred in mid-March caused damage to a wide area of Mongolia. Gers (mobile homes), livestock fences, and house roofs were damaged, and many livestock were killed or went missing.
The loss of livestock means the loss of a valuable source of income for the nomadic people. JPF is preparing to support the livelihood of the affected people by distributing necessary supplies.
JPF Preparing Aid for Sandstorm Disaster in Mongolia
26th May 2021 12:00
Damaged livestock fence ©Dundgovi Provincial Office
A large-scale dust storm hit Mongolia in mid-March. The gers (mobile homes) of the nomads were damaged and many of the victims lost their homes. Livestock, a valuable source of income to support their livelihoods, were also damaged. JPF member NGOs are making preparations to deliver much-needed support to the affected areas.
Dust storms in the inland deserts of the Eurasian continent and the surrounding arid regions can fall as yellow sand in Japan. Mr. Eijiro Hara, a representative of an organization working on greening activities in China and Mongolia, has this to say about sandstorms: "When they are bad, they can damage your eardrums.
“When it's bad, you can hear the sand hitting your eardrums, like crackling. You can't even see 10 meters ahead. What comes to Japan may only be a shower, but there are more horrible things there.”
To prevent sandstorms, it is important to stop desertification. If left unchecked, this could lead not only to disasters such as sandstorms, but also to the further spread of hunger and poverty due to the inability to farm and raise cattle.
NHK WEB News
"What's happening in the area where yellow sand is generated...” (in Japanese)
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20210428/k10013002551000.html
Decision to Launch
20th April 2021 22:32
On 16 April, Japan Platform (JPF) decided to launch an emergency response program to support the people affected by the sandstorm that hit Mongolia in mid-March.
A sandstorm that occurred in Mongolia from 14 to 15 March 2021 caused extensive damages in large areas of the country. Many gers (mobile homes), livestock fences, and roofs of houses across the country were damaged. The total number of affected people is estimated to be more than 4,000 households and 15,000 individuals, and 10 people were killed. Many livestock, a valuable source of income for the local economy, have been reported dead or missing throughout the country
Responding to local needs, JPF member NGO Save the Children Japan (SCJ) will distribute gers to affected nomadic households and hygiene kits to improve sanitation and prevent new coronavirus infections. They will also provide cash transfers to nomadic households that have lost their livestock which were their means of livelihood, and information on psychological first aid (PFA) for children.
As COVID-19 cases has been reported in the region, JPF will exchange information with others involved in the relief efforts to ensure infection prevention as we promptly provide emergency assistance. We will be posting regular updates on this program on JPF’s website and Facebook.
On 16 April, Japan Platform (JPF) decided to launch an emergency response program to support the people affected by the sandstorm that hit Mongolia in mid-March.
＜Overview＞
- From 14 to 15 March 2021, a sandstorm with strong winds of up to 40 meters per second occurred in Mongolia, causing extensive damages in 16 provinces in the western, central, eastern, and southern regions*1.
- There were 706 people missing (696 were later found safe) and 10 people killed due to this sandstorm. Damages included 531 gers (mobile homes), 2,244 livestock fences, and 283 roofs of houses across the country. The hardest hit was the central province of Dundgovi, and 9 out of 10 deaths were residents of this province, while 93 gers, 587 livestock fences, and 69 building roofs were damaged there*2. The total number of affected people is estimated to be more than 4,000 households and 15,000 individuals*3.
- Livestock are a valuable source of income for the local economy, but 340,354 have been reported dead or missing throughout the country, with more than 90% of them in the Dundgovi*2. Many of the people are nomads who depend on livestock for meat, milk, and other daily foods, and their livelihoods and food security have been affected. In order to search for missing livestock while traveling long distances, some caregivers leave their children at home for long periods of time with relatives or others, and there are concerns about the impact on children.
- Currently, the local government, UN agencies, Mongolian Red Cross Society, and NGOs are coordinating their relief efforts, but they are not sufficient for the scale of damage. In addition, nomads are living in various places, making it difficult to grasp the full extent of the damages people have sustained. In fact, the scale of the damage is likely to increase.
- JPF member NGO Save the Children Japan (SCJ) will provide support in the hardest hit Dundgovi Province as well as Arkhangai, Dornod, Uvurkhangai, Govi-Altai, and Sukhbaatar Provinces. Responding to local needs, we will distribute gers to affected nomadic households and hygiene kits to improve sanitation and prevent new coronavirus infections. We will also provide cash transfers to nomadic households that have lost their livestock which were their means of livelihood, and information on psychological first aid (PFA) for children.
- As COVID-19 cases has been reported in the region, JPF will exchange information with others involved in the relief efforts to ensure infection prevention as we promptly provide emergency assistance. We will be posting regular updates on this program on JPF's website and Facebook.
Areas affected by sandstorm (as of 17 March) ©IFRC
*1：IFRC, Emergency Plan of Action (EPoA) Mongolia: Sandstorm (19 March 2021)
*2:National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) (as of 27 March)
*3: Estimated figures based on information from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the National Statistical Office of Mongolia (as of 27 March)
Program Overview
| Term | 3 months, Initial Response Period |
|---|---|
| Budget | 25 million yen (government funding) |
| Location | Mongolia |
