Floods displace over 20,000 people in Mongolian capital

By Linda Bordoni

For ten days, heavy rains have been beating down in Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar, causing the waters of the Selbe and Tuul rivers to rise and overflow.

The entire population has been affected with tens of thousands reporting damage to their homes and over 20,000 moved to safe ground where they are receiving humanitarian aid.

Mongolian army soldiers and members of the civil defence force have been deployed for rescue and relief activities, such as setting up centres for displaced people and distributing food and medicine.

The UN’s Children’s Fund – Unicef – is distributing medicines and medical equipment, and providing psychosocial support activities to affected families, while the Mongolian Red Cross has stepped in with blankets, mattresses, kitchen utensils, disposable masks, gloves and sanitizing products.

Hundreds of yurts and traditional vehicles have reportedly been flooded in the city, and more than 700 roads, bridges, schools, dams and power lines are damaged.

State of High Alert

The government has declared a state of high alert in Ulaanbaatar, as more rains are expected, which experts describe as "the heaviest in the last 50 years".

Mongolia is increasingly facing climate change-related risks, such as extreme rainfall, strong winds and snowstorms.

Most vulnerable to these changes are traditional settlements, known as 'ger districts', often established on lowlands and mountain slopes, susceptible to flooding and mudslides.

A traditional ger district

Adaptation project

A UN-Habitat project has selected seven "ger districts" in Ulaanbaatar for its "Adaptation Project" that kicked off in 2019 to help improve communities' adaptation to floods.

The project implemented a number of steps: construction of physical infrastructure against flooding and improved sanitation services; improving knowledge of the dangers and risks of flooding.

It has involved groups, of 10 to 20 families at a time, where household members are encouraged in mutual awareness, communication, solidarity and help. A total of 89 groups have been formed in Ulaanbaatar, half of them led by women, who are implementing local action plans.

While over 27,000 people have benefited directly from flood protection, another million people in the capital benefit indirectly as the project serves as a model for the whole city.

Pope Francis is scheduled to travel to Ulaanbaatar for a four-day apostolic visit from 31 August to 4 September, becoming the first Pope to visit Mongolia.