This 18-month-old Mongolian boy's family has already lost more than half their herd
200 animals out of a total of 300.

Vast swathes of people here are pastoralists who rely on livestock to make a living and feed their children — but in the vicious cold, millions of animals are dying.

After a dry summer, people are already experiencing food and fuel shortages and at least 20,000 families have migrated in search of pasture for their herds.

“Mongolia is in the middle of a major emergency; tens of thousands of families don’t know how they’re going to feed their children, heat their homes or keep their animals alive and things are only going to get worse as temperatures continue to plummet,” said Emma Roberts, Save the Children’s Emergency Advisor.

“Children are the most vulnerable with many now living in poorly-heated, badly-maintained school dormitories in villages while their families travel far afield in search of food for their animals,” Roberts continued. “The treacherous weather means few children who fall sick or women who go into labour can get to a doctor in time, and if they can, if their animals have died, they won’t be able to pay for even basic health care.”

“We’re delivering food, blankets, sanitation kits and fuel, and repairing school heating systems to benefit thousands of children in schools, school dormitories and kindergartens, but the challenge ahead of us is huge.”

What you can do

Make a donation to our Children’s Emergency Fund and help families in Mongolia and other emergency-stricken countries.