United Nations hands over supplies for dzud affected households

Odonchimeg 2016-04-11 10:04

Economy

The United Nations mobilized $2.4 million from its Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) in response to the recent Dzud harsh winter disaster which has directly affected the lives of as many as 63,000 nomadic households in Mongolia.

The United Nations mobilized $2.4 million from its Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) in response to the recent Dzud harsh winter disaster which has directly affected the lives of as many as 63,000 nomadic households in Mongolia. As part of this assistance, food, nutrition packages and hygiene kits were handed over to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for immediate distribution to women and children in affected communities in six provinces. The life-saving food and nutrition packages are meant to ensure food security of the affected households and prevent them, particularly vulnerable children, and pregnant and lactating women from micronutrient deficiencies. “In any emergency, women and children are the most vulnerable. Extreme cold poses increased risk of Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI), pneumonia and other infectious disease (measles and chickenpox) among children, as their immune systems are lower due to undernutrition.” says Roberto Benes, UNICEF Mongolia Representative. “That is why micronutrient supplements are so important in reducing maternal and child morbidity and mortality in dzud affected areas”.