While there have been only nine reported human deaths, the massive livestock losses will mean many herders will lose their livelihoods, meaning a large increase in unemployment.

"We only started herding after we got married four year ago with 100 animals. But, through hard work, we managed to grow our herd to 450 and also looked after my father-in-law's 300 animals," said residents Mr and Mrs Sergetenbaatar, Adaatsag Soum, Dundgovi Aimag. "But now, we have only 30 animals left. We don't have any higher education or job prospects and do not know what we will do. We got a bank loan at the end of last year and now cannot pay it back and may lose our collateral. We have two children--what will we do with them if we lose everything?"

The situation is starting to get so bad that an increasing number of herders are facing starvation themselves. This figure was 20,000 at the end of January but is estimated to have risen significantly since then.

The Mongolian government declared a state of disaster in 12 aimags (provinces) and provided each one with MNT 330,000,000 (usd230,000) for disaster relief in the form of livestock feed, veterinary and medical services, food and warm clothing for herders. It also released the national hay and fodder reserves, which is being sold at 50 percent of normal cost to herders, and paid stipends to all herder households with elderly or disabled members so they could purchase feed and medicines for their livestock.

Additionally, WSPA provided funding for its member society Cambridge-Mongolian Development Appeal (CAMDA) to purchase 130 tons of concentrated fodder and 1.3 tons of milk powder, which was distributed to 2,517 herder households in three soums (sub-divisions) in Dundgovi Aimag.

The concentrated fodder was used by herders to feed pregnant animals, as they were at greatest risk from the dzud and dying in large numbers. The pregnant animals are vital to recovery; the loss of expectant mothers and their newborns can mean the potential loss of a whole reproductive cycle and a second generation of animals.

Other entities, including the Chinese, Russian and Turkish governments, as well as the United Nation's Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF), have allocated funding to the disaster.

Nearly all herder households who had managed to stockpile some hay and fodder reserves before the dzud have run out of food for their animals. Many stretched their hay reserves by mixing horse dung with it to feed to ruminants. Some better prepared herders still have feed reserves and there is still hay, bran and concentrated fodder available for herders to purchase, but all are running out.

Even though the weather has started to improve with the arrival of spring (March-May,) animals will be at risk of dying until at least mid-May. Grass growth is not expected until sometime in May, depending on weather conditions.

WSPA and CAMDA are committed to continuing their assistance in the area. The organizations have both the will and capacity to undertake a longer-term project and, with additional funding, can help many more animals and families in Mongolia.