Red Cross officials are calling for emergency aid for nomadic herders in Mongolia. They are facing a serious food shortage due to an extreme winter.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies made the appeal at a news conference in Beijing on Thursday. Officials hope to collect about 650,000 dollars. They say that more than 70 percent of the country is covered with snow. The harsh weather has killed off many of the animals herding families rely on for food.
A drought last summer has made the situation worse. It stunted grass that livestock use as feed. Nearly 160,000 Mongolians have been seriously affected. It's the second straight year the country has been hit by a severe cold spell. More than 1.2 million of the herders' animals died last year.
Officials warn herders may flood into the slums of Ulan Bator, seeking refuge.
◆nomadic 遊牧の
◆herder 家畜の番人、家畜の世話をする人
◆drought 干ばつ
◆stunt 成長などを妨げる
◆cold spell 寒波
◆seeking refuge 避難する、逃げ込む