MNG: Mongolians Fight For Survival In Extreme Cold

ULAAN BAATAR, MONGOLIA-MARCH 16 : A drunk man passed out on the snow after being rejected from a homeless shelter March 16, 2010 in Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia. Mongolia suffers with a very high number of alcoholics, all consuming cheap Mongolian vodka that is readily available to the poor and the unemployed, The problem is severe causing the number of street children to rise, fleeing their abusive, dysfunctional homes. During the winter this means extreme hardship, for the homeless with temperatures dropping as low as -25C mid- Winter. This year Mongolia has experienced extreme cold and snow during the worst winter in 30 years. Presently the government has declared an emergency requiring foreign aid to alleviate the impact of the " Zud" ( Mongolian term for a multiple natural disaster) caused by bitter cold and thick snow. Currently 1.5 mgoats, 921,000 sheep, 169,000 cows and yaks, 89,000 horses and 1,500 camels had died according to the various UN agency reports. Many Mongolians have immigrated to the capital city from the far away provinces seeking employment, living in rented traditional circular felt yurts with no running water or electricity. (Photo by Paula Bronstein /Getty Images)