MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Patterson
Senator Kay Patterson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign
Affairs, today announced that Australia will send additional assistance to Mongolia
to counter the onset of widespread food shortages following one of its harshest
winters in recent history.
The Australian Government is responding to this urgent need for emergency
assistance through the International Federation of the Red Cross. Australia
will provide a further $220,000 to the IFRC in addition to $100,000 provided
in April.
The latest reports from the International Federation of the Red Cross indicate
that the situation in Mongolia has deteriorated. It is now estimated that 450,000
rural people are at risk of starvation after harsh snowstorms killed over two
million animals, which is approximately 70% of their herds, she said.
Mongolian herders traditionally store food for the bleak winter months. These
food stocks are now exhausted and much of the remaining livestock is not expected
to survive through the spring.
Livestock is the main source of food for Mongolian herders. The loss of their
animals will impact on the livelihoods of herders for many months, and this
assistance will help families to recover. The food security of nearly a quarter
of Mongolia's population of 2.7 million is seriously threatened. Senator Patterson
said.
Mongolian herders have been devastated by a series of climatic disasters. Last
year Mongolia suffered from drought followed by a plague of rats that destroyed
much of the grasslands on which the herds of sheep, cattle and horses depend.
Then the onset of severe, early winter snowfalls has led to the worst winter
this region has experienced in decades.
These funds aim to provide 35,000 people in the worst-hit areas with urgently
needed supplies to survive the summer without their traditional food sources.
Supplies include supplementary food rations such as rice, millet and wheat flour.
Media contacts:
Louise Ahern (Senator Patterson's office) 02 6277 3800/ 0409 034 403
Fionna Douglas (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 / 0412 804 489