LIFE IN BLIZZARD

PKG

INTRO

Heavy snow has been battering Xilin Gol grassland in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region for two months, affecting more than eight million farmers and herdsmen.

China Report takes a look.

PKG

Since the beginning of November, blizzard has hit the region for six times.

The average precipitation reaches almost one feet, a record high since 1961.

More than 990,000 square kilometers, or about 70 percent of the region has been covered by thick snow, with some areas severely affected.

SOUNDBITE: BAO SHAN, Chifeng City official

"The average depth of the snow reaches 40 to 50 centimeters. And in some parts of our city, it even reached 70 to 80 centimeters. That's the biggest blizzard in 50 years in Chifeng City."

Wang Jila is a herdman in Xilin Gol League.

pHe was walking more than 100 sheep on the grassland when CNC correspondents met him.

Little grass went through the snow. Sheep was roaming together to keep warm.

SOUNDBITE: WANG JILA, Herdsman

"There's nothing for sheep to eat. I just make them move so they will feel a litter warmer. If they just stand in the barn, they will freeze."

The average temperature of Inner Mongolia has dropped to minus 9 degrees Celsius, 2 degrees lower than that of the same period in the past.

And some parts of the region even saw the lowest temperature of minus 40 degrees Celsius.

Most of Inner Mongolia's herdsmen now live in brick houses. That is much warmer than Mongolia yurt.

They raise cattle, more or less. So, they can use cattle' s excrement to make a fire.

This way has been keeping them from freezing in winter for generations.

But the biggest problem for them is that the blizzard came too early this year.

And both of the herdsmen and livestock were not ready.

And some livestock just are lost in the blizzard.

SOUNDBITE: ALATAN AOQIER, Herdsman

"Heavy snow blocked ways within a 2-kilometer radius. More than 400 sheep and 20 cows would never come back."

As of this week, more than 70,000 livestock died in the blizzard in Inner Mongolia.

But Alantan Aoqier said that's not the worst thing.

He still had hundreds of sheep after losing many. But what really worried him is the lack of grass.

He had prepared enough grass for his livestock to pass the winter.

But the early snow left the grass stranded on the road before he carried them home.

SOUNDBITE: ALATAN AOQIER, Herdsman

"Snow freezes the grassland. Only stored grass is not enough for the sheep."

Along the snow zone, wrapped grass could be seen everywhere.

But herdsmen can't carry them home, as heavy snow has disrupted traffic.

CNC correspondents tried to visit a trapped herdsman, but failed as the snow blocked the way.

According to the region's traffic authorities, heavy snow has led to the closure of expressways.

There have been more than 180 road accidents on the Inner Mongolia section of the Beijing-Tibet Expressway since the beginning of November.

The early and heavy snow, icy layer, bad traffic... all of these together made millions of livestock now face starvation.

SOUNDBITE: BAO SHAN, Chifeng City official

"The most challenging time will be February, when most sheep are about to give birth to babies."

Statistics from the regional government show the snow disaster has affected about 8.4 million people and 22.7 million livestock, and caused direct economic losses of more than 96 million U.S. dollars.

Nearly 130,000 people were in badly needs of food, clothes, and fuel.

As of now, government has provided more than 38 million dollars to fight against the blizzard.

According to regional agriculture department, more than 1.5 million tons of grass and forage is needed to relieve the disaster-hit area in the region.

Weather forecasters say more blizzards will hit Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the next two weeks

And that's all for this edition of China Report. Thank you for joining us.More news on our website--www.cncworld.tv...Bye for now.