Parts of Inner Mongolia hit by snow disaster, sheep herds in farming and pastoral areas severely affected

Original headline: Parts of Xilin Gol League in Inner Mongolia hit by snow disaster

On December 10, a flock of sheep forages on snow-covered grassland in Mandulatu Gacha, Ming'antu Town, Zhengxiangbai Banner.

Since November, the grasslands of Xilin Gol League in Inner Mongolia have experienced 6 rounds of widespread heavy snowfall, temperature drops and strong winds. The league-wide average snowfall reached 21 mm, the second-highest value for the same period since 1961; snow cover extended over more than 90% of the entire territory, with an average snow depth of more than 10 cm, and in some areas the snow depth exceeded 20 cm.

The sustained heavy snowfall, low temperatures and strong winds have had a huge impact on local residents' travel and on the safety of people and livestock in farming and pastoral areas. According to preliminary statistics, the affected area across the league reached 66,000 sq km, accounting for more than 30% of the total area, involving 45 sumu and townships, 625 gacha villages and 240,000 farmers and herders, with nearly 2.8 million head of affected livestock and more than 600 damaged sheds and greenhouses.

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ren Junchuan

On December 10, a herder drives a flock of sheep across snow-covered grassland in Haoya'erdudu Gacha, Ulanqab Sumu, Zhengxiangbai Banner.

On December 10, herder Siqinbatu of Mandulatu Gacha, Ming'antu Town, Zhengxiangbai Banner, takes grass out from under the snow to feed sheep.