What to Do When There Is a Dzud | Mongolia Extreme Winter and Herder Family Survival Guide

If a dzud is developing in Mongolia, protect people first: keep the household warm, maintain safe food and drinking water, preserve access to essential medicine, and check the latest winter and dzud-risk information for your location. For herder families, the next priority is to secure appropriate hay, fodder, water and animal shelter before snow, ice and dangerous roads remove the opportunity. If access to pasture has been blocked, contact local livestock and emergency authorities early rather than waiting until animals are dying or the family has run out of supplies.

If someone is trapped in severe cold, seriously ill or unable to travel safely, seek assistance. Mongolia’s emergency response number is 105, ambulance 103, fire 101, and police 102, according to the national communications regulator. In remote places, telephone coverage and response times may be limited: give your aimag, soum, bagh, GPS coordinates if available, landmark, number of people and urgent medical or transport needs, and work with the local authorities to arrange the safest response. Do not attempt a dangerous cross-country journey merely because a distant source of hay or supplies is rumoured to be available.

This Mongolia dzud guide serves herder households, children, older adults, rural teachers, veterinarians, livestock workers and travellers. A dzud is not just a very cold night: it is a severe winter disaster that can follow summer drought, deep snow or ice formation, blocking grazing and causing livestock losses, household food insecurity and prolonged disruption. Current risk varies between provinces and localities. Use Mongolia’s National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring, the official weather service, and the National Emergency Management Agency. This page is not a real-time declaration that your soum is currently in a dzud.

Quick answer: what to do when dzud threatens Mongolia

Check local forecasts and dzud-risk information from NAMEM, weather.gov.mn, NEMA and your aimag or soum administration.
Prioritise household safety: warm shelter, safe heating, drinking water, essential medicines, nutritious food, communication and a plan for people who need help.
Inspect livestock conditions and winter supplies early: hay, fodder, accessible water, shelter, animal body condition and the actual route to available grazing or support.
Ask livestock and veterinary authorities for locally suitable advice. Do not move a weakened herd long distances on an unverified icy route.
Treat dangerous road and weather warnings seriously. Deep snow, wind, ice and low temperatures can make a short rural journey unsafe.
Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Operate heating stoves and fuel-burning equipment with proper flue, ventilation, maintenance and precautions; never heat a sealed room with unvented equipment.
Look out for hypothermia: confusion, unusual drowsiness, loss of coordination or severe cold-related illness requires urgent medical help.
Request assistance before all supplies run out. Contact the soum or aimag authorities, NEMA and verified Mongolian Red Cross or other active local support.
For emergencies: 105 emergency response; 103 ambulance; 101 fire; 102 police. Explain location and access conditions.
Do not assume a thaw ends the disaster. Livestock recovery, food security, debts, education and household income may need longer-term support.

The United Nations’ Mongolia dzud guidance stresses early action to protect herder livelihoods, while the IFRC’s Mongolia recovery account explains how severe snow and ice can make pasture inaccessible for animals.

First understand why a dzud is different from ordinary winter

Mongolia has long, cold winters, but dzud describes a more serious combination of conditions that affects people and especially livestock. Animals may be unable to reach grass because of deep snow, hard ice or grazing that was already poor after drought. Movement can become difficult, water can freeze and families may have to spend large amounts of money on feed or fuel.

A white dzud typically refers to heavy snow that blocks pasture. An iron dzud involves hard ice or compact frozen layers that prevent animals from accessing forage. Other conditions may involve extreme cold, poor pasture or combined stresses. These local descriptions are useful but are not a substitute for the current official situation assessment.

Dzud can develop gradually over weeks or months. A household may still be able to travel in early autumn or early winter, but lose that ability when snow and wind worsen. A farm or herding plan therefore needs decisions before the crisis becomes acute.

The difference matters for the reader: the correct response is not a single sudden evacuation order. It is a sequence of weather monitoring, livestock and household preparation, targeted assistance, health protection and long-term recovery.

The warning signs occur before animals begin dying

A summer with poor pasture growth can leave animals underweight before winter. In autumn, insufficient hay, fodder, fuel or winter shelter can reduce resilience. During winter, deep snow, hard crust or repeated storms may block grazing and water access.

These conditions can be observed and discussed with local livestock, weather and emergency services. Signs of stress may include reduced animal body condition, longer journeys to feed or water, weak offspring and rapidly declining stored feed. But a herder should not attempt to diagnose the full risk from one number or animal photograph.

The local decision depends on the actual herd condition, available winter reserves, weather outlook, transport routes and support. It is better to seek professional or local advice while options remain than to wait until severe losses force an emergency journey.

The United Nations’ early dzud action briefing describes how poor summer pasture and difficult winter conditions combine to threaten herders.

Where to check Mongolia’s official dzud outlooks

The National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring coordinates national meteorological and environmental monitoring. The Mongolian weather portal publishes forecasts, alerts and winter or dzud-related information. Local hydrometeorological offices may provide more specific updates in Mongolian.

The National Emergency Management Agency publishes disaster-prevention information and announcements. Its spatial information portal includes disaster mapping and dzud-related risk tools. These are valuable for understanding regional patterns, but not every map layer is a live statement about access to a particular well or pasture.

When reading an outlook, check the issuing date, region, expected period, current snow or ice conditions and any recommended action. Mongolia’s weather portal published a dzud outlook in late October 2026, but that does not mean every herder household faces identical conditions.

A forecast is a planning instrument. Use local observations and administration or veterinary advice to decide what needs to happen at the household or herd level.

NEMA and local emergency authorities

NEMA is Mongolia’s national emergency management organisation. During dzud conditions, local aimag and soum authorities, emergency units, veterinary departments and other partners may coordinate transport, supplies, medical referrals and assistance.

NEMA’s official English website contains disaster-preparedness information, and the Mongolian-language site has prevention sections for snowstorms and dzud hazards. The national NEMA mapping service describes using geospatial and social information for disaster monitoring and response.

Do not assume that an old relief programme is currently open or that every soum receives the same assistance. Ask local authorities which support is available, where applications or distribution take place, and whether routes are actually open.

A family needing urgent rescue should prioritise the current emergency service. A family that still has feed but is facing a deteriorating forecast should seek planning advice from the local livestock and administration services.

Emergency numbers in Mongolia

Mongolia’s Communications Regulatory Commission lists 101 for fire, 102 for police, 103 for ambulance and 105 for emergency response. These are three-digit emergency numbers for the country, not marketing hotlines.

For a person who collapses, has severe hypothermia symptoms or urgent medical illness, call 103. For a rescue or disaster response need, contact 105. If a home or ger is on fire or has an immediate fire hazard, use 101. Where a police response is needed, use 102.

In September 2026, NEMA also described emergency SOS access using supported smartphones and the E-Mongolia application, including options for 101 and 105. Such features depend on compatible devices, connectivity and setup; they should supplement, not replace, reliable local contacts.

People in remote places should know the nearest emergency unit and health facility before winter travel becomes difficult. In an emergency, give exact geographic information and the number and condition of people needing help.

What to say when calling from a remote herder camp

A response team may not know the location of an isolated winter camp from the name of a large province. Say the aimag, soum, bagh, approximate distance from a known settlement, direction and identifiable landmarks, plus GPS coordinates if available.

Describe the hazard: deep snow blocking a route, a person unable to travel, lack of essential medication, a vehicle stranded, a heating accident or a family cut off from food and water. Give the number of adults, children and people with medical needs. State the last known open access route and whether fuel or transport is available.

Keep one phone number available for callbacks and ensure a trusted contact knows the same information. If the call cannot connect, seek other official or community channels without sending a person alone through dangerous weather.

A good emergency report provides actionable facts rather than a lengthy story. Responders need location, danger, people, access and contact information.

Human life first: warmth, safe air and drinking water

Dzud affects livestock, but the first priority is the health and safety of people. Keep the ger or home safely heated and protected from severe wind. Maintain safe drinking water, sufficient food and essential medication. Be alert to the effect of isolation on older adults, pregnant people and children.

A family should not use all available household water or heating fuel solely for animals when human needs are becoming critical. Seek assistance early rather than waiting until both people and herds are severely affected. The most effective community response considers both together.

Severe cold can harm people who are not outdoors if indoor heating fails or carbon monoxide accumulates. A home that feels warm is not necessarily safe when ventilation or flue systems are damaged.

A household plan should cover warmth, breathable indoor air, water, food, communication, medical access and the ability to obtain help.

Safe heating in gers and rural houses

Coal-, wood- and other fuel-burning stoves can create carbon monoxide when combustion or venting is poor. Carbon monoxide is invisible and can cause headache, nausea, dizziness, confusion, collapse and death. A family may mistakenly attribute symptoms to fatigue or illness.

Maintain heating and flue systems and follow local fire-safety guidance. Ensure appropriate ventilation, including when outside temperatures are very low. Do not block a flue to retain heat or operate a fuel-burning heater designed for outdoor use inside an enclosed sleeping area.

If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds or poisoning is suspected, move everyone into fresh air as safely as possible and seek urgent emergency help. Do not remain inside trying to identify the source. Do not re-enter until the hazard has been checked and made safe.

Where available, use suitable carbon monoxide alarms and ensure batteries or other power requirements are maintained. Fire prevention and reliable ventilation are essential to surviving winter, not optional conveniences.

Hypothermia: how to recognise urgent danger

Hypothermia occurs when body heat is lost faster than it can be replaced. Signs may include persistent shivering, slurred speech, confusion, clumsiness, unusual drowsiness and loss of coordination. Severe cases may involve reduced consciousness and changes in breathing.

Move the affected person to a warm, protected place if it can be done safely. Remove wet clothing and wrap them in dry blankets or other insulation. Handle a severely cold person gently and contact 103 for urgent medical care. Follow dispatcher instructions; do not give anything by mouth if the person is confused or unable to swallow safely.

Avoid rubbing severely cold skin or placing a person with suspected significant hypothermia suddenly into a hot bath. Use safe gradual protection from cold and professional care, particularly when a person is very weak or unresponsive.

A person who stops shivering is not automatically recovering; worsening hypothermia can suppress shivering. Seek help for concerning changes in consciousness or behaviour.

Frostbite and cold injury

Frostbite can damage skin and underlying tissue, especially fingers, toes, ears and the nose. Numbness, colour changes, hard skin or loss of feeling may occur. The appearance can vary by skin tone, and pain may become less noticeable as tissue freezes.

Move the person to shelter, protect the affected area from further cold and obtain medical advice. Do not rub frozen tissue, apply direct flames or use dangerously hot water. If the area might refreeze during unavoidable travel, improper rewarming can worsen damage; follow medical guidance.

Wear appropriate insulated boots, mittens and layered clothing before going outdoors. Replace wet items promptly. A long trip to collect hay may create serious cold injury if clothing, fuel or transport are inadequate.

Health protection should not be delayed because livestock chores are unfinished. One unwell adult may be essential to the household’s future safety and income.

Feed and hay: act before access to pasture disappears

When snow and ice block grazing, stored hay and fodder become critical. Estimate actual remaining supplies, consider herd body condition and seek local livestock advice about feeding priorities, safe storage and appropriate supplements.

Do not assume that a given quantity of hay will sustain every species and age group equally. Sheep, goats, cattle, horses and camels differ in their nutritional requirements, and pregnant or weak animals may have special needs. A veterinary or livestock specialist can advise on appropriate feeding during stressful weather.

The IFRC’s account of Mongolia’s severe dzud describes how hay, fodder and other assistance helped households protect animals when pasture became inaccessible.

A rumour that a distant soum has cheap fodder is not enough to justify dangerous travel. Verify availability, price, transport route and storage conditions first. Feed reserves are only useful if people can obtain and handle them safely.

Do not make abrupt, unassessed feed changes

Animals weakened by prolonged poor grazing may have nutritional or digestive problems. Abrupt changes to concentrated feed, inappropriate supplements or contaminated hay can cause harm. Seek guidance from qualified local livestock and veterinary services.

Check stored feed for spoilage, mould and contamination. Protect it from water and weather. If there is a known shortage, consult about appropriate rationing and herd management rather than spreading an unverified rule that all animals should receive identical amounts.

Minerals, vitamin products and medicines should be used under suitable veterinary guidance. An animal care kit may help when correctly applied, but no single supplement replaces forage, water, shelter and appropriate medical attention.

Do not administer human medicines to animals because a social-media post recommends them. Treat persistent weakness, injury or disease as reasons for qualified assessment.

Livestock water and frozen sources

Livestock need accessible water even in severe winter. Water points may freeze, become blocked by snow or be difficult to reach. Animals may expend energy travelling to the source, while the herder may face exposure and transport risk.

Inspect whether a supply is usable and safe. Arrange appropriate winter water access with local knowledge and suitable equipment. Do not send people or animals across thin ice or an unverified frozen crossing to reach a well.

If pumping equipment fails or fuel is limited, contact local authorities or trusted technical support early. Avoid improvising unsafe electrical or fuel heating methods inside enclosed spaces to thaw equipment.

A reliable livestock-water plan should be separate from the family’s drinking-water safety plan, while recognising that both depend on transport, fuel and infrastructure.

Animal shelter and protection against storms

Winter shelters can reduce livestock exposure to wind and extreme conditions when appropriately designed and maintained. Inspect doors, roofs, walls and access routes before severe snow or wind arrives. Remove known hazards such as exposed wires or unstable structures only when it is safe.

Avoid overcrowding, poor air quality and conditions that promote disease. Shelter arrangements need suitable ventilation, dryness and animal husbandry standards. A tightly sealed structure that retains warmth but creates unsafe indoor air can harm animals and carers.

If a shelter has been damaged, seek local support for repair rather than asking an exhausted person to climb an unstable roof during strong wind. Plan access for feeding and care without walking through deep snow in dangerous conditions.

The IFRC’s recovery reporting documents winter shelter investments as part of longer-term livestock resilience after severe dzud.

Animal condition: when to seek veterinary assistance

Watch for reduced mobility, refusal to eat, pronounced weakness, abnormal behaviour, injuries and signs of disease. Animals with poor body condition or pregnancy may be especially vulnerable during prolonged feed shortages.

A veterinarian or livestock officer can advise on appropriate treatment, feeding, movement and disease control. Do not diagnose the cause of every animal death as cold or starvation alone. Infectious disease, dehydration, injury and other problems may coexist.

If several animals are becoming unwell, report the situation to the appropriate local veterinary authority. Follow movement or biosecurity restrictions where they apply, particularly if disease is suspected.

Seek help before entire groups become too weak to move. Early advice can protect animal welfare and may reduce the longer-term loss of productive livestock.

Herd movement: when travel may help and when it may harm

Movement to another pasture can be part of pastoral management, but severe snow, ice, cold and weak livestock may make a late long-distance move unsafe. The destination may also have unavailable forage or limited water.

Before moving animals, verify actual pasture and water conditions, route access, permissions, veterinary restrictions, fuel, transport availability and the herd’s ability to travel. Coordinate with local authorities and experienced herders instead of following rumours.

A small group of people should not travel overnight into unknown winter conditions simply to test a distant route. A short delay to verify a route can be safer than losing transport, animals or human life in a storm.

The right decision differs between herds and regions. There is no blanket instruction that every family should migrate or remain in place; local evidence and animal condition determine the option.

Vehicles and dangerous winter roads

Road travel can become difficult when snowdrifts, ice, wind and low visibility combine. A familiar route across open steppe may become impossible to follow. Four-wheel drive does not guarantee traction, braking or navigation in blizzard conditions.

Check current forecasts and local road information before departure. Inform someone of the route, passengers, fuel, expected time and contingency plan. Carry appropriate cold-weather clothing, water or practical safe drinks, food, communication equipment and vehicle emergency supplies.

If a vehicle becomes stranded, request assistance and share a location. Remain with the vehicle when it offers safe shelter and there is no more immediate hazard, rather than walking blindly into whiteout conditions. Be alert to carbon monoxide from exhaust blocked by snow if the engine is used for heat.

The goal is to avoid emergency travel when conditions are no longer manageable, not to prove that a vehicle can cross any frozen landscape.

If the road to a soum centre is blocked

A herder may need fuel, medicine, feed or a health appointment while the usual route is impassable. Do not attempt to force a vehicle across deep snow or thin ice because an appointment is urgent. Contact the relevant soum authority, health centre or emergency service and explain the need.

Give a precise location and tell responders whether a person is seriously ill or has essential medication running out. A local official may know alternative supply, road-clearing or medical referral arrangements.

Keep the household informed of any plan. Someone should know who is travelling, with what equipment, and when the travellers are expected to report back. A person disappearing on an unverified route creates a second emergency.

When possible, use coordinated transport or official support rather than several households making separate hazardous trips.

Schoolchildren and boarding arrangements during dzud

Dzud can affect education when families move, roads close, livestock losses reduce income or children stay in boarding facilities away from home. The most important task for caregivers is to maintain reliable contact, safe transport and sufficient food and health care.

Parents should check official school or local administration instructions before attempting travel to collect children during dangerous weather. A closed road does not become safe because the journey is emotionally urgent. Use trusted communication channels and ask the school’s responsible staff to confirm where children are safe.

Children at home should not be sent alone across icy terrain to bring fodder or water. Assign age-appropriate chores that do not expose them to serious cold or dangerous livestock handling.

The Mongolian Red Cross and IFRC have documented outreach and support for families and children affected by dzud, illustrating that education and family wellbeing are part of the disaster response.

Women, caregivers and household workload

During dzud, household chores can become more demanding as water freezes, animals require additional feed and journeys take longer. Caregivers may face additional responsibilities for infants, older relatives and livestock while one adult is away arranging supplies.

A practical plan should distribute duties according to safety and ability. Avoid expecting one exhausted person to perform repeated outdoor work in extreme cold. Make sure every adult knows the emergency contacts and where medicines, fuel and food are stored.

For pregnant people or someone recovering from childbirth, plan safe medical access before a storm blocks the road. Do not assume that ordinary winter arrangements will be sufficient during a prolonged transport disruption.

A household’s resilience is not just the number of animals that survive. It includes the health, safety and decision-making capacity of everyone who cares for them.

Older adults and people with disability

People with reduced mobility may have difficulty reaching a warm location, collecting water or travelling to a health facility. Arrange assistance early, particularly where a person lives alone or communication is unreliable.

Keep necessary medicine and medical information accessible. Where someone depends on electrical equipment or refrigerated treatment, seek professional advice about a safe backup during an outage. Do not improvise changes to essential medicines.

A remote emergency report should mention disability or mobility needs so responders understand the transport or equipment required. A simple “one person cannot walk, housed at this GPS location, severe cold” may be more actionable than a vague distress call.

Do not ask someone with limited mobility to travel through deep snow to reach an unverified distribution point. Seek an accessible support arrangement through local services.

Food security for herder households

Livestock can provide milk, meat, income and other resources, so animal losses can reduce household food access during and after dzud. A family may begin limiting meals or selling productive animals to obtain feed or fuel.

If safe food supplies are becoming insufficient, contact local government, health services or verified humanitarian organisations early. Ask whether appropriate food, cash, hay or livestock support is operating in the area. Do not assume every household automatically qualifies for the same payment or assistance package.

Prioritise infants, pregnant or breastfeeding people and anyone with medical needs. A child who is losing weight or feeding poorly should receive timely health assessment, not be told to wait until spring.

The United Nations’ Mongolia dzud response analysis highlights the connection between household vulnerability, livestock mortality and food security.

What humanitarian assistance may look like

Past responses to severe dzud have involved emergency food, multipurpose cash, hay and fodder support, animal care supplies, shelter improvements and psychosocial assistance. These are examples of possible forms of help, not a guarantee of current eligibility or service coverage.

The IFRC’s report on herder assistance describes cash and animal care support. Its 2025 recovery account describes efforts to rebuild livelihoods and winter shelter infrastructure after the 2023–2024 crisis.

When a programme is announced, verify the implementing organisation, participating soums, conditions and actual distribution arrangements. Do not pay an unofficial registration agent or share unnecessary financial details based on a forwarded message.

If a family is urgently without food or heat, contact appropriate local authorities rather than waiting for an online form that might refer to an old programme.

How to avoid false aid and weather messages

A dzud map from a previous winter can be mistakenly circulated as a current warning. A photo of dead livestock may be from another aimag or year. A message promising fuel vouchers may be real, outdated or fraudulent.

Before forwarding, check the source, issue date, affected locality and requested action. NAMEM provides weather and environmental monitoring; NEMA and local authorities provide disaster information; verified aid organisations publish their own programme conditions.

Avoid treating one percentage of national snow cover as proof that every village is equally affected. Risk depends on ice, feed stocks, grazing access, livestock condition, road availability and household resources.

An effective community message says: “The soum administration has announced an operating distribution location for these bags; these are the hours and contact.” It gives details people can act on instead of a dramatic but unverified prediction.

Business and local market continuity

Dzud can affect rural shops, feed suppliers, transporters, livestock markets and local services. A business may face disrupted roads, shortages of fuel, reduced customers or clients struggling to pay.

A responsible business plan should protect employees and maintain essential communications. Do not require drivers to use unsafe winter routes to meet a delivery date. Verify supplier stock and route conditions before promising that feed will arrive.

Price changes and shortages can create stress for households. Keep records of essential transactions and communicate transparently, especially when working with emergency supply schemes. Avoid misleading advertising of guaranteed feed availability.

Restoring market activity after dzud can support livelihoods, but it must follow road and infrastructure safety requirements.

How to prepare before the next winter

Dzud preparedness begins well before snow falls. During summer and autumn, review pasture conditions, water access, animal body condition, winter feed reserves and the suitability of shelter. Consult meteorological outlooks and local livestock services when choosing grazing and stocking plans.

Consider safe storage of hay and fodder, maintenance of water systems, stove and chimney safety, communication tools and transport arrangements. Identify a backup plan if an early winter storm blocks the normal road to the soum centre.

For households with children or elderly people, confirm how health care, schooling and food will continue during isolation. Keep a written emergency contact list and location information.

The UN’s Mongolia early action plan emphasises the value of anticipating winter threats instead of responding only after losses become severe.

Financial decisions under severe livestock pressure

As feed and transport costs rise, a household may consider selling animals, borrowing money or reallocating resources. These choices can have long-lasting consequences, especially if most productive animals are lost.

Seek current market and livestock advice where possible. Assess realistic feed costs, animal condition, transport access and household essentials before making irreversible decisions. There is no universal instruction to sell or retain every animal; each herd and household has different constraints.

Avoid borrowing from an unfamiliar party who promises that weather will improve on a certain date or that guaranteed relief payments will arrive. Verify official assistance and get qualified financial advice where accessible.

Long-term resilience can include safer water infrastructure, appropriate shelter, livelihood diversification and financial planning, not only increasing herd size.

What happens when snow and ice begin to melt?

A thaw can reopen grazing and roads, but it does not automatically restore animal body condition, food reserves or household income. Weak animals may still require veterinary attention and appropriate feeding. Damaged shelters and water systems may need repair.

Thawing ground and snowmelt can also create muddy roads, drainage problems and unstable crossings. Do not assume that a winter closure becomes safe immediately when the temperature rises.

Households may need time to rebuild herds, replace essential equipment, restore income and maintain school attendance. Support programmes may shift from immediate emergency supplies toward recovery and preparedness for the next season.

The end of extreme winter weather is not the end of the dzud’s human and economic impact.

Scenario 1: a herder family sees pasture disappearing beneath ice

Imagine a family in a rural soum notices that a hard ice layer is preventing livestock from grazing. Their stored fodder is declining and local forecasts indicate continued severe conditions.

They contact the local livestock service, verify the available feed supply and route, and ask the soum authority about current dzud support. They do not send one adult alone across an unverified icy track to a distant rumoured pasture.

This is a fictional teaching scenario, not a claim about any current Mongolian soum. Its lesson is early verified action instead of late hazardous travel.

Scenario 2: a child and older adult are in a ger with a heating problem

A family in a remote ger notices headache and dizziness while the stove is operating and the chimney appears blocked. Instead of sealing the vents more tightly to preserve heat, the adults move everyone to safe fresh air and seek emergency assistance for suspected carbon monoxide exposure.

They do not re-enter the affected space until the heating system is checked. The child and older adult receive medical attention as needed.

This scenario is illustrative. The lesson is a warm ger can still be dangerous if combustion gases cannot escape safely.

Scenario 3: a vehicle becomes stranded between settlements

A driver carrying supplies encounters deep drifting snow and can no longer safely continue. There is no visible settlement nearby. The driver reports the route and GPS location to emergency contacts and remains with the vehicle when it offers safe refuge.

The driver conserves phone power and avoids walking into whiteout conditions. If using the engine for warmth, they check that exhaust is clear of snow and take precautions against carbon monoxide.

The lesson is communication, shelter and avoiding an improvised trek can matter more than reaching the planned destination.

Scenario 4: a family needs medicine while roads are closed

An older resident requires medicine, but the road to the soum health centre is blocked. Relatives consider trying to drive across an unsafe frozen river.

They instead contact the local health service or emergency responders, give their exact location and medical need, and ask about a safe supply or transport solution. They do not risk creating a second medical emergency on a dangerous crossing.

This example shows why urgent health needs should lead to coordinated assistance, not uncontrolled travel.

Scenario 5: winter ends but household income has not recovered

A family has survived the harshest months, but livestock losses have reduced income and some children missed school. A spring thaw has begun, yet the household still needs veterinary care, feed support and financial advice.

The family contacts local recovery services and verifies assistance programmes, then plans for the coming grazing season. They do not assume that one warm week erases the effects of livestock mortality and depleted supplies.

The lesson is recovery must include livelihood and household stability, not only improved weather.

Common mistakes during dzud in Mongolia

Treating dzud as an ordinary snowstorm. Feed access, livestock health and long-term livelihoods are central concerns.
Waiting until hay is completely gone before seeking help. Early planning preserves options.
Believing all winter roads remain passable to an experienced driver. Snowdrifts, ice and whiteout conditions may make travel unsafe.
Moving a weak herd over a long unverified route. The destination and animals may not support the journey.
Applying one feed ration to every species and age group. Consult appropriate livestock experts.
Assuming snow or ice means drinking water is safe. Protect household water sources and containers.
Sealing a stove flue to keep warmth indoors. Carbon monoxide can be deadly.
Treating a confused, cold person as merely sleepy. Hypothermia may require urgent care.
Rubbing frostbitten tissue vigorously. This can worsen tissue damage.
Using a previous winter’s dzud map as a current forecast. Check issue dates and local reports.
Trusting unverified aid registration links. Contact named local or humanitarian organisations.
Assuming that livestock losses are the only disaster impact. Food, children’s schooling, health and household finances can suffer.
Believing spring weather means recovery is complete. Herd rebuilding and income support may take much longer.
Assuming national emergency numbers guarantee fast access from all remote locations. Prepare local contacts and share precise location information.

Frequently asked questions

What is a dzud?

A dzud is a severe Mongolian winter disaster in which combinations of cold, deep snow, ice and poor grazing conditions threaten livestock and the households that rely on them. It may follow drought and limited fodder preparation.

What should a family do first if dzud is forecast?

Protect warm shelter, food, safe water, medicine and communication, then review hay and fodder, livestock shelter, water access and local support options. Act before roads and supplies become critical.

What is Mongolia’s emergency response number?

105 is the designated emergency response number. 103 is ambulance, 101 fire and 102 police, according to the Communications Regulatory Commission.

Where can I check the current dzud risk?

Use NAMEM, weather.gov.mn, NEMA and the NEMA disaster mapping portal, alongside local soum information.

What is the difference between white dzud and iron dzud?

White dzud is associated with deep snow obstructing pasture. Iron dzud involves hard ice or frozen crust that animals cannot graze through. Actual risk depends on local conditions and livestock needs.

Should herders move livestock to another region?

Not automatically. Verify pasture, water, route, permission and herd condition with appropriate local authorities and livestock advisers. A dangerous late move can make losses worse.

When should someone seek medical help for cold exposure?

Urgently for confusion, loss of coordination, marked drowsiness, loss of consciousness or other severe symptoms. Call 103 and protect the person from further cold while following medical instructions.

Does the dzud end as soon as snow melts?

Weather may improve before animal health, income, food access and other household needs recover. Recovery planning can continue through spring and beyond.

Official Mongolia dzud sources and related eduKate guides

Editorial review: 5 November 2026. This article gives general winter and livelihood safety information. It is not a present dzud risk classification, guarantee of aid eligibility, veterinary diagnosis or emergency dispatch service. Follow current Mongolian meteorological, NEMA, local livestock, health and emergency instructions.