Mongolian Herder Families Are Being Split Between Countryside and Town

Apr 30, 2019 | B Munkhtuvshin
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One snowy winter’s day I went to a small winter camp of just two households 140 km from the nearest soum (district) centre. A dog stopped me getting out of the car for some time but eventually a man came to hold it back, explaining that the man from the neighbouring household was away on Otor migration in the mountains with his cattle. The two men were brothers, and the one left behind, Batbold, was taking care of their smaller livestock. It was very cold in his ger and I had the impression that he had not made a fire all day. I introduced myself, asked if I could talk to him, and pulled out my notebook. It was so cold that I had to ask him to make a fire to start the conversation.