March 1, 2010 — As part of the government's ongoing efforts to assist people living in rural areas affected by dzud, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has agreed to provide a relief convoy for children from herding families.

The aid, valued at approximately 136,000 US dollars, primarily targets 3,900 children living in poorly heated school dormitories across 22 soums in the provinces of Khövsgöl, Uvs, Zavkhan, Gobi-Altai, Hovd, and Bayan-Ölgii, which are the regions most severely affected by the dzud. The first shipment, which includes warm blankets, boots, games, hand sanitizer, soap, and other essentials for adolescent girls, landed at the Hovd provincial center last Saturday (February 27, 2010).

"We are providing essential products as well as educational materials for children staying in dormitories, as they often lack access to heating facilities, food, and medical care. Protecting children against disease and chronic malnutrition is key to our interventions planned in the coming months, and our first priority is raising awareness in these communities," said UNICEF's Representative for Mongolie, Fleurs Rana.

AeroMongolia, a private domestic airline, agreed to transport the packages to Khovd Province at a reduced cost, UNICEF stated, because heavy snowfall has made dzud-affected areas inaccessible by land routes.

The shipment also includes a contribution from children at the International School of Ulaanbaatar, where fourth-grade students mobilized to make a donation and demonstrate their solidarity with children living in the affected rural areas. An additional shipment is planned for the coming weeks, UNICEF announced, coordinated with the government and non-governmental partners, including the National Emergency Management Agency.

"As difficult weather conditions are expected to continue until spring, UNICEF will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to children and women in the provinces most affected by dzud. UNICEF is particularly concerned about food security and the risk of increased acute respiratory illness. To address this, UNICEF plans to send fortified flour and micronutrients for families and children, as well as medical supplies and equipment to help aimag and soum hospitals provide essential services to pregnant women, newborns, and children under five," UNICEF stated.

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Charlène at Nomadays — A SEO writer from Nomadays' earliest days, Charlène has evolved into content manager and head of the communications department, accompanying the adventure since its inception with passion and loyalty. After seven years living across Asia—from China to Thailand, through Mongolie and South Korea—she has made travel a way of being in the world. A lover of words, nature, and human connection, she strives to convey in her writing a thoughtful, engaged, and responsible vision of tourism. For her, each article is a bridge between curiosity, respect, and wonder.