Since 31 December 2000, violent snowstorms have battered the Inner
Mongolia Autonomous Region. Three days of blizzards that hit northern
China and Mongolia over the New Year have left some parts of the region
buried in snow and ice to a depth of 2 metres. Night temperatures
fall to minus 50 Celsius, 10 – 20 degrees lower than the usual temperature
at the same time of the year. Animals are literally frozen stiff and
it is estimated that well over 500,000 have frozen to death – already
twice the number that died during last year’s severe winter. A representative
for the Federation of Red Cross Societies reports that the weather
conditions are so bad that as many as six million head of livestock
might be lost.
The weather is exacerbating the already difficult situation of herders
on the steppe who have not recovered from the severe winter of 1999/2000
and subsequent summer drought which either killed or weakened thousands
of animals. Livestock are the peoples’ lifeline as they rely on them
for the necessities of life – they are used or traded for food, clothing,
education and health costs as well as providing fuel (dung) for cooking
and heating during the normally bitterly cold winters
As at 18 January 2001 in Inner Mongolia alone, 27 persons had lost
their lives and thousands are at severe risk due to the bitter cold.
Relief workers are desperately trying to reach remote areas with supplies,
but the deep snow remains and entire towns are blocked. Many herders
and livestock are stranded in the grasslands of Inner Mongolia without
much hope of food, fodder and clothing reaching them. Communication
systems have been damaged in the storms, but official reports reveal
that at least 1,639,000 people have been affected along with 22,300,000
livestock and 23,533,000 hectares of grazing and grassland destroyed.
According to meteorological reports, more snowfalls are expected
and the unusually low temperatures could continue to the end of April.
Many more casualties and losses are forecast.
The China Charity Federation has called on people all over the country
to donate what they can and the Red Cross Society of China has appealed
to the International Red Cross Society and the Hong Kong Red Cross
Chapter for in-kind and financial support. The Chinese Ministry of
Minorities Affairs has organised benefit performances to help raise
funds.
ACT member in China, the Amity Foundation is contacting local
authorities to ascertain specific needs. According to reports there
is an urgent need for winter clothing, cotton quilts, instant food,
fuels for cooking and heating, medicine, fodder and Type 654 tractors
for gaining access in the snow.
While further information is awaited from Amity Foundation, donors
are requested to indicate possible support in the event of an ACT
Appeal being issued.
