News Item: In flood's wake
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Saturday, August 16, 2003
LDS Church News, Edition: All, Page: Z12
ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia The rains came to Mongolia this July, bringing moisture to an area plagued by a four-year drought, but causing widespread flooding and damage to the lower regions of Ulaanbaatar, the capital city.
Within hours, Church members in Ulaanbaatar distributed 2,500 pounds of clothing, household goods, shoes and hygiene kits to the victims of the flood.
Nine people died during the disaster, which swept away more than 40 homes. Responding immediately, Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Mission President Gary Gibbons directed that supplies on hand from the LDS Humanitarian Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, be used as quickly and effectively as possible. Senior missionary couples rallied and distributed available materials to families who had lost everything.
In cooperation with city officials and the Red Cross, four distribution points were arranged and needy families assembled to receive the much-needed relief material. The City of Ulaanbaatar acted swiftly in erecting many "ger homes" on higher ground and relocated the worst-hit families to a safer area.
A "ger home" is a temporary structure, a nomadic tent, used by more than half of the population of Mongolia. A small wood stove sits in the middle of the structure, with a stovepipe through the roof.
One of the families who relocated to the new ger camp lost two children in the storm. Their remaining two children and a grandmother received clothing, shoes and hygiene kits. Since Ulaanbaatar is the coldest capital in the world with temperatures plunging to 40 degrees below zero during the winter, warm clothing and felt shoe liners were also distributed.
Another family lost their home only seven days after the mother gave birth. The family was relocated to the new camp and received a newborn kit from the LDS Humanitarian Center.
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Words: 303
Section: Church News
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