ULAN BATOR, Mongolia, March 30 (UPI) -- A harsh and enduring winter is wreaking havoc on the Mongolian economy as herders become trapped by the environment, U.N. agencies said.
A so-called dzud, an abnormally harsh winter that leaves livestock without food, has lingered in Mongolia for months. The situation is complicated by a pervasive drought that plagued the region before winter set in.
The United Nations said the humanitarian impact of the harsh winter has worsened since January. U.N. agencies said urgent aid was needed to address malnutrition, disease and mass migration brought on by the dzud.
The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said it dispatched natural disaster response experts to the region to support crisis management efforts under way in Mongolia.
The United Nations said it designated more than $3.5 million in emergency funding to support its work in the region. An array of U.N. agencies are working in the area to help the estimated 500,000 people suffering from the combined effects of the harsh winter and the summer drought.
