AKIPRESS.COM - UNICEF hosted the launching ceremony of a project to improve sanitation and hygiene in flood-prone areas of Ulaanbaatar at the UN Building on April 2. The project, funded by a $1.8 million from the government of Japan, will be implemented by UNICEF, Montsame reports.

In recent years, the frequency of natural disasters such as droughts, dzud, floods, and earthquakes has been rapidly increasing not only in Mongolia but also worldwide due to climate change.

According to a study by the United Nations, floods in Mongolia cost an average of $24 million a year and result in an average of 92 deaths annually. Another study found that over two thousand citizens suffered from the 2023 flood in Ulaanbaatar alone.

The implementation of the project to be implemented in all nine districts of Ulaanbaatar is critically important that families and citizens residing in flood-prone areas of the capital, particularly vulnerable populations, including children, women, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities, will have access to a safe and reliable source of clean drinking water.

To enhance the capabilities of disaster rescue services, the project will equip the National Emergency Management Agency of Mongolia with high-performance flood drainage pumps. Additionally, 18 flood-prone areas will benefit from the construction of water supply, sanitation, and hygiene facilities. Furthermore, one thousand education sector personnel will be trained in Japan, strengthening their disaster preparedness skills.