The International Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) is a source of un-earmarked money created by the Federation in 1985 to ensure that immediate financial support is available for Red Cross and Red Crescent response to emergencies. The DREF is a vital part of the International Federation's disaster response system and increases the ability of national societies to respond to disasters.
Period covered by this update: 21 July to 27 July, 2009
Summary: CHF 240,000 (USD 224,073 or EUR 157,897) has been allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the National Society in delivering immediate assistance to some 10,000 beneficiaries. Unearmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged. The major donors to the DREF are the Irish, Italian, Netherlands and Norwegian governments and ECHO.
On 21 July, an MRCS and International Federation joint assessment took place in Khan-Uul district. It found that some 500 families were affected by the floods – many of which had moved in with nearby relatives and begun cleaning up their homes. As many of the affected have lost belongings to the flood, there is a great need for food, water supply, warm clothes and bedding. At the moment, MRCS is not planning to request an international appeal, but they will continue monitoring the situation as it develops.
This operation is expected to be implemented within 3 months, and will therefore be completed by 20 October 2009. In line with Federation reporting standards, the Final Report (narrative and financial) is due 90 days after the end of the operation (20 January 2010).
The situation
The torrential downpour and flooding in Mongolia on 17 July 2009 has caused more than 1,975 families to be affected, with 124 of them left homeless. In addition, three bridges and 10 power stations were damaged. The most affected areas of Ulaanbaator were Bayanzurkh and Khan-Uul districts. Particularly, in Bayanzurkh district, which is more populated by ger district residents, over 1,000 gers have been carried away by floods according to the local government. A greater tragedy took place in the outskirts when a ger collapsed on a family in the steppes of Bayanzurkh district, killing three children.
The government mobilized the army immediately to aid in the evacuation of 282 people over the weekend and provide emergency shelter to the homeless people and cover food supplies for 7 days for the people in need.
According to the health department, the flood hit areas are under great risk of disease outbreak, local health workers and Red Cross volunteers are conducting health and hygiene promotion and conducting a clean-up of the flooded areas.
The MRCS had described the flooding as the worst to hit the sparsely populated nation since 1966. It is concerned about the next three months, because the affected people need more assistance before the harsh winter arrives.
In Mongolia, where poverty remains widespread, flooding severely impacts livelihoods. Women in general face a significantly higher incidence of income poverty than men across the country: in the capital city, in aimags, in soums, and in rural areas. Widespread income poverty is closely linked to unemployment and low earnings. The Labour Force Survey completed in 2004 indicate that the estimated unemployment rate was 14.2 per cent in 2003.
Features of poverty in Mongolia:
- Close to 900,000 Mongolians living in poverty lack the means to purchase enough food and live in dignity.
- Within the single parent-headed household, women-headed households comprise 15 per cent of the total households nationwide.
- Some 75 per cent of ger residents live below the poverty line and 39 per cent of them are affected by capability poverty.
- In 1998, for Ulaanbaatar city, the proportion of poor women (44 percent) was more than double the proportion of poor men (21 percent). In the soums, the proportion is 52 per cent of women against 28 percent of men.
- In 2002, the unemployment rate among women was 3.8 per cent – about 12 per cent higher than the national average and 22 per cent higher than the unemployment rate among men.
- Five out of nine poor people live in soum centres and rural areas.
- 24 to 34 per cent of households with 4 to 5 members fall in the poor category.
- More than 70 per cent of rural poor live in gers, 25 per cent in residence houses, and 3.6 per cent in apartment buildings
The H1N1 outbreak in Mongolia is at 
Early signs of influenza A(H1N1) are flu-like, including fever, cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, sore throat and runny nose, and sometimes vomiting or diarrhea.The main route of transmission of the new influenza A(H1N1) virus seems to be similar to seasonal influenza, via droplets that are expelled by speaking, sneezing or coughing. You can prevent getting infected by avoiding close contact with people who show influenza-like symptoms (trying to maintain a distance of about 1 meter if possible) and taking the following measures:
In 1992, the first case of HIV was identified in Mongolia. Between 1992-2004 there were only 5 people. Yet after 2005, the number grew rapidly and 8 persons have passed away. This year, the number grew to fifty seven. 