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 9 : Munkhtetseg, an alchoholic cries as she explains that she has no job, sitting in a dark , cold house next to daughters Otogonjargal, 10 (center) and Enkhtsetseg,13 ( left) March 9, 2010 in Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia. The family could not pay the electricity bill so they only have candles and barely enough money to buy wood for the stove to warm up the small house. Many Mongolians have immigrated to the capitol city from the far away provinces seeking employment, living in rented traditional circular felt yurts with no running water or electricity. In the winter this means extreme hardship, with temperatures dropping below -25C mid- Winter. As Mongolia experiences extreme cold and snow struggling during the worst winter 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. 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 9 : Munkhtetseg, an alchoholic cries as she explains that she has no job, sitting in a dark , cold house next to daughters Otogonjargal, 10 (center) and Enkhtsetseg,13 ( left) March 9, 2010 in Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia. The family could not pay the electricity bill so they only have candles and barely enough money to buy wood for the stove to warm up the small house. Many Mongolians have immigrated to the capitol city from the far away provinces seeking employment, living in rented traditional circular felt yurts with no running water or electricity. In the winter this means extreme hardship, with temperatures dropping below -25C mid- Winter. As Mongolia experiences extreme cold and snow struggling during the worst winter 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. 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)