Mongolia

MAF in Mongolia

Mongolia is a vast country with huge distances to travel but with little infrastructure. The climate is hard and winters are extremely cold, with temperatures dropping as low as -40ºC.

In 1990, Mongolia abandoned its 70-year-old Soviet-style one-party state and embraced political and economic reforms. Democracy and privatisation were enshrined in a new constitution, but the collapse of the economy after the withdrawal of Soviet support triggered widespread poverty and unemployment.

Many agencies arrived in Mongolia to carry out development and church work. When the already poor internal flight service declined, these agencies looked to MAF to set up an operation.

Following a third survey in 1997, it was decided that the best way for us to serve in Mongolia was to set up a joint venture with a local Christian partner. A suitable Mongolian organisation was identified, Exodus International, run by two young Christian Mongolian businessmen. The local partners were able to obtain the necessary permits for the Joint Venture (known as Blue Sky Aviation) and in May 1999 an operating permit was granted by the government for a full aviation service.

An aircraft hangar was completed in the spring of 2000 and in July a new Cessna 208 Grand Caravan arrived, fully equipped for operations in extreme temperatures. MAF began flying in 2001.

A lot of our flying is for the small but growing church, as well as development agencies and government bodies. Droughts, and unusually cold and snowy winters (known as dzud), have in the past decimated livestock, destroying the livelihoods of thousands of families. With such huge distances to cover, MAF flights are a lifeline in a medical emergency.

Our operation in Mongolia is based in the capital, Ulaanbaatar. There is one aircraft, a Cessna Grand Caravan called the Millennium Messenger. There are 5 national staff families and 12 national staff.

Types of flying done by MAF in Mongolia:
Medical emergencies
Churches
Development agencies
School projects
Commercial business (mining)




Organisations served by MAF in Mongolia:

ADRA
Alpha Communities
Amgalan Bible Church (evangelical)
BHP Billiton
Bible league of Mongolia
Campus Crusade Mongolia
Centerra Gold
Cooperative Services International
Discovery Mongolia tour
East Asia Minerals
Eternal Life Church (evangelical)
Finnish Lutheran Overseas Mission (FLOM)
Fish Mongolia
Hope Church (Assemblies of God)
Hovsgol Travel
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
Ivrea sisters
Jovens Com Uma Missâ (JOCUM)
Landdrill International LLC
Major Drilling
Mongolian Mobile Bible Training Centre
NOAA (National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration)
Nomads tour
Norwegian Lutheran Mission
Pillar International
Pioneers (International)
Professional Resource Group International
QGX Mongolia Company
Rio Tinto
Swiss Consulate in Mongolia
World Vision

Demographics

Mongolia has the 64th lowest Human Development Index rating in the world

• Population: 2,996,081 (UK: 61 million)
• Birth rate: 21 births/1,000 population (UK: 11 births/1,000)
• Life expectancy at birth: 67 years (UK: 79 years)
• Population under 15 years: 28% (UK: 17%)
• Infant mortality: 1 in 24 die at birth (UK: 1 in 200 die at birth)
• Population below the poverty line: 36%
• HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% of population (UK: 0.2%)
• Literacy rate: 97.8% (UK: 99%)

Infrastructure

Mongolia is a vast nation, over ten times larger than the UK but with minimal infrastructure

• Area of the country: 603,908 sq miles (UK: 94,525 sq miles)
• 30,603 miles of roads, but only 1,071 miles of paved roads (UK: 240,896 miles – all paved)
• Only 44 airstrips or which 13 are paved

Economy

Traditionally centred on herding and agriculture, Mongolia’s economy is growing. Increasing industrial production of the country’s vast mineral deposits and economic reforms have helped recovery after Soviet withdrawal

• 40% of the population employed in agriculture and herding
• Main exports include copper, clothing, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides, fluorspar and other nonferrous metals

Environment

Increasing industrialisation and lack of ecological management threaten Mongolia’s harsh environment:

• limited natural fresh water resources in some areas
• policies of the former Communist regime promoted rapid urbanisation and industrial growth with negative effects on the environment
• the burning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of environmental laws severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar
• deforestation, overgrazing, and the converting of virgin land to agricultural production increased soil erosion from wind and rain
• desertification, partly through climate change and pastureland degradation, and mining activities have a harmful effect on the environment

Climate

This vast country has a continental, desert climate, with large daily and seasonal temperature ranges. Resultant natural hazards are

• dust storms
• grassland and forest fires
• drought
• dzud, which is harsh winter conditions

Religion

Buddism, Shamanism and Islam are the recognised religions. Religious freedom is given when considered non-threatening. The Church is small but rapidly growing

• Buddhist Lamaist: 50%
• none: 40%
• Shamanist and Christian: 6%
• Muslim: 4%