File:Dust on snow in western Mongolia (MODIS 2018-03-31).jpg

English: For the third year in a row, Mongolian herdsmen are grappling with a bitterly cold, snowy winter following on the heels of summer drought – a fatal mix for hundreds of thousands of animals. As of March 14, 2018, more than 700,000 head of livestock had died from frigid temperatures and the inability to reach food or water due to ice and thick snow cover.

According to ReliefWeb, by late January about 70 percent of Mongolia was covered in snow up to 45 cm (17.8 in) deep. Temperatures reaching near 50 °C (-58° F) were expected through February at least, with no real warm-up typical in the region until June. “Dzud” winters – characterized by frigid temperatures and heavy snow – are a major natural hazard for Mongolia.

Approximately 4,500 herdsman live in Mongolia and rely solely on their animals for their livelihood. The loss of livestock in dzud winters is more than an economic hardship for the herders, as few families have funds to replace livestock – and little training to take on jobs in the city. Thousands of herders have been forced to abandon their homelands and move to Ulaanbaatar, the capital city, in an attempt to find work. Unfortunately this often results in homelessness.