Monaco and Red Cross implement a “Cash distribution” project

Khan Bank facilitates distribution

Monaco and Red Cross implement a “Cash distribution” project Khan Bank facilitates distribution The Honorary Consulate of the Principality of Monaco and Mongolian Red Cross Society have successfully implemented a “Cash distribution” Project in Dundgovi province in cooperation with Khan Bank to support

herder households who completely lost their main income — livestock.

Cash was disbursed to 226 Herder families in Dundgobi province who lost all their livestock

Dundgovi province has been one of the most dzud and droughtaffected provinces throughout past years. Last year, during the 2009- 2010 harsh winter dzud, 788,735 head of livestock were lost in the whole province. Therefore, Chandmani D., the Province Governor called an appeal (for support donations) and requested the Honorary Consulate of the Principality of Monaco in Mongolia to provide support for extremely-affected herder households in Delgerkhangai and Saikhan-Ovoo soums of this province. Monaco’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs was introduced to the request and they decided to donate 50,000 Euros for Dundgobi province. As a result, there was an opportunity to implement a “Cash distribution” project in these 2 soums within framework of the “Humanitarian donation 2010  program of the Mongolian Red Cross Society.

As for the statistical number of livestock of the soums; there are 906 herder households (approx. 3,896 persons) and their livelihood and main income completely depends on livestock products. During the dzud, these 2 soums lost 64 percent of their total livestock (156,257 head of livestock) according to statistics. More specifically, 279 herder households which are 30.8 percent of all herder households lost 100 percent of their livestock. In addition, 807 herder households (89 percent of all total herder households) had lost 50 percent of their livestock.

The poverty index was the main beneficiary selection criteria and a one-time nonrefundable cash distribution was delivered to a total of 226 herder households (1206 people). The main purpose of this cash project was to ensure the basic livelihood of extremely affected herder households and to improve their food and health security standard. Furthermore, it was intended to help herder households with their needs, such as family member education fees, hospital treatment costs, small business start or household’s preparation for winter or any utilization they want.

Basically, the following selection criteria were used to select project beneficiaries in the vulnerable

category.

source: The Mongol Messenger newspaper