Economic, social, and political changes: _pb001cambodia.jpg

Mongolia is one of the coldest places on the planet with temperatures dropping as low as -25C on an average winter day.The country suffered one of the most difficult winters in over 30 years. In Mongolian language its called the “Zud”, a Mongolian term which is a multiple natural disaster consisting of a summer drought producing small stockpiling of fodder, followed by very heavy winter snow and bitter cold. ULAAN BAATAR, MONGOLIA-MARCH 5 : A Mongolian elderly woman looks out from a frosty window riding on a city bus March 5, 2010 in Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia. Mongolia is still experiencing one of the worst Winters in 30 years. Presently the government has declared an emergency requiring foreign aid to alleviate the impact of the {quote} Zud{quote} ( Mongolian term for a multiple natural disaster) caused by bitter cold and thick snow. Recently, the UN allocated $3.7 million for humanitarian assistance to Mongolia from its Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). Currently 1.5 m goats, 921,000 sheep, 169,000 cows and yaks, 89,000 horses and 1,500 camels had died according to the various UN agency reports. (Photo by Paula Bronstein /Getty Images)
_pb001cambodia.jpg

Mongolia is one of the coldest places on the planet with temperatures dropping as low as -25C on an average winter day.The country suffered one of the most difficult winters in over 30 years. In Mongolian language its called the “Zud”, a Mongolian term which is a multiple natural disaster consisting of a summer drought producing small stockpiling of fodder, followed by very heavy winter snow and bitter cold.

ULAAN BAATAR, MONGOLIA-MARCH 5 : A Mongolian elderly woman looks out from a frosty window riding on a city bus March 5, 2010 in Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia. Mongolia is still experiencing one of the worst Winters in 30 years. Presently the government has declared an emergency requiring foreign aid to alleviate the impact of the

" Zud" ( Mongolian term for a multiple natural disaster) caused by bitter cold and thick snow. Recently, the UN allocated $3.7 million for humanitarian assistance to Mongolia from its Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). Currently 1.5 m goats, 921,000 sheep, 169,000 cows and yaks, 89,000 horses and 1,500 camels had died according to the various UN agency reports.

(Photo by Paula Bronstein /Getty Images)