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From
1999 to 2001, large areas of Mongolia experienced summer drought
followed by severe winter weather with deep snows and extremely
cold temperatures. Summer drought results in poor pasture conditions
with short strands of grass. Severe winter conditions cover up
the sparse summer grass with snow and ice. This condition, called
dzud in the Mongolian language, makes it impossible for herders
to graze their pastoral animals, resulting in large die-offs of
animals and poverty for the most affected herders. Many provinces
experienced drought in the summer of 2001, affecting 70 percent
of pastureland. In addition, the Mongolian Institute of Meteorology
and Hydrology had predicted severe weather for the winter of 2001-2002.
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