Khutag Undur Flood Relief Fund

On the night of June 14, 2018 a flash flood hit the rural Mongolian community of Khutag Undur.  The sudden deluge of water swept through the community damaging homes, injuring 53 people, and claiming the life of one six year old child. 

The full estimation of property damage now rests at 18 gers (tented homes) completely destroyed, with severe to minor damage to 17 summer houses and 4 winter homes.

For most of you this tragedy is something far off, on the other side of the world. You have the power to close that distance. To give back what has been lost. Because to have a home, a place to call one's own is the most basic right a human can claim. These families have lost that right and now I am asking for your help.


If you donate your money will go to the following ends:

First, replacing Gers: Contrary to popular image most Mongolians do not choose to live in gers year-round. Those that do are families already on the edge of poverty and to lose it is to truly lose everything.  Our first priority will be to replace and give back some sort of shelter to these people. At our current estimation materials for a single ger will cost 1.8 million tugriks or 747.04 dollars.

Secondly, Winter homes: Most people know Mongolia is cold but few can understand how desperately cold it can get. Temperatures in Khutag Undur routinely drop below -20 Celsius in winter and to not have a safe and warm home can quite literally be a death sentence.

Lastly, Summer houses and fences: Most Mongolians build small cabins or huts that function as storage spaces or freezers in winter and temporary living spaces in summer.  Repairing these means restoring the rhythm of normal life and necessary living space.



A final note in the interest of full disclosure: In some of the pictures shown you may see a house with a yellow roof. That was a house that I was renting as an American Peace Corps Volunteer living and working in that community. That house has been used by volunteers in the past as a place to share American values and build up the people of this village in the name of peace. Many of my personal possessions were destroyed in the flood. But none of the money will go to recouping  my property or me in any way. I will be happy to give a full accounting of money spent to any donor who requests it. This is about Mongolians, for Mongolians.