DZUD
A Winter Catastrophe
Reportage Photography from Mongolia’s devastating winter
Young girl looking through window at animals -Mongolian Dzud
Nomadic herders riding across the steppe -Mongolian Dzud
Herder family at winter grazing area -Mongolian Dzud
Herder family moving to look for better grazing for their animals -Mongolian Dzud
Hunters on steppe -Mongolian Dzud
The vast empty steppe of Western Mongolia -Mongolian Dzud
Photojournalism from Mongolia’s Frozen Steppe
Reportage Photography
A dzud is a winter disaster that occurs in Mongolia. It is characterized by a combination of severe natural hazards, including severe drought during the summer months, unusually cold temperatures during the autumn and winter, and heavy snowfall.
Climate change is causing an increasing number of severe dzuds in Mongolia. This has a severe impact on the herding community, who rely heavily on their livestock, not just for food but also for transportation, heating and clothing.
According to scientists, climate change is making dzuds more frequent and more severe. The droughts are becoming more intense, the temperatures are dropping lower, and the snowfall is becoming heavier. This is putting a significant strain on the herding community and their livestock. The loss of animals leads to a loss of livelihoods and income for these people.
Not only the herding community is affected, but the whole country, as livestock is a significant part of the country's economy. The loss of animals has a ripple effect on the entire economy and leads to a decline in the standard of living for the population. This is not only a problem for Mongolia, but it's a global issue that affects the entire world.
I travelled to Mongolia to document the dzud for a French magazine and the NGO Médecins Sans Frontières.