desperate mongolians send children into countryside to escape choking winter smog - home room air purifiers

ULAANBAATAR (Reuters)-
Mongolia has extended the school's winter vacation in the world's coldest capital, and many families have sent their children to the vast windy grasslands and relatives in order to avoid respiratory diseases such as choking smog and pneumonia.
The temperature is expected to drop to minus 32 degrees Celsius (minus 26F)
On Monday night, in Ulanbaatar, residents burn coal and garbage to try to keep warm and gather smoke particles known as pm2. 5.
5 usually more than 500 mg per cubic meter, 50 times the level of safety considered by who.
Mongolia, a former Soviet satellite between Russia and China, has invested public funds and foreign aid in solving pollution problems, but progress has been slow. local residents said the corruption scandal has paralyzed parliament, this exacerbated the situation of inaction.
In a crowded town more than 40 miles from Ulan Bator, the five grandchildren of Jantsandulam Bold breathe more easily after fleeing the capital.
"Fresh air and sunshine are vital to the healthy and strong growth of children," said Jantsandulam, 57 . " She makes milk tea for her grandchildren at home, and is known as the thick cotton quilt felt cabin of "ger" or "yurt" in Russian.
"The little guy got the flu when he came, but the fresh air was good for him," she said . "year-old grandson.
The children are about to finish a game or two.
The school will reopen for one month next Monday.
About 60% of Mongolia's land is covered by grasslands, where the mining of copper, gold, coal and other minerals provides jobs, while the Gobi Desert surrounds the South.
But almost half of the population lives in Ulan Bator.
Reuters based on US calculationsS.
According to embassy data, the average annual PM2.
In 2018, five concentrations in Ulanbaatar reached 100 micrograms.
They soared to 270 in December. PM2.
In Shijiazhuang, China's most polluted city, an average of 70 micrograms last year dropped by 15 micrograms.
From 7% in 2017.
The World Health Organization recommends no more than 10 micrograms.
Who said that 80% of the smog in Ulanbaatar was caused by coal burning in the "ger" area, where thousands of rural migrants accustomed to nomadic lifestyles built huts.
Air pollution is estimated to cause 4,000 premature deaths each year.
A joint study in the United StatesN.
International emergency fund for children (UNICEF)
Mongolia's national public health center says children living in smog
Lung function in vulnerable areas of Ulanbaatar is 40% lower than in rural areas.
Bolormaa Bumbaa, a doctor at the Bayangol District Children's Hospital in Ulanbaatar, said: "Air pollution has exacerbated respiratory diseases and children under five years of age are most vulnerable because of their organs
The family has set up a pressure group called "parents against smog", but after the protests organized in Ulanbaatar were ignored, the organization's coordinator, Mandakhjargal Tumur, said, the organization decided to focus on encouraging residents to take action to protect themselves.
"I think the government is not doing enough to reduce pollution in the next few years," she said . ".
"That's why we are now focused on raising awareness.
At the bayagor hospital of altz II
Orshikh Otgon, 34, was forced to take her 10-month-
For the second time in a month, daughter Akama has contracted pneumonia.
"I believe it's because of pollution," she said . " She added that household air purifiers did not help much.
"Just open the door and our home is full of smoke," she said while breastfeeding Achmaa in the waiting room.
The doctor advised her to take her child out of Ulanbaatar, but she had no relatives in the countryside and the rent was expensive.
"Decision makers have been saying for years that they are fighting pollution," she said . ".
"They just wasted billions of dollars on useless stoves and processed coal, and that didn't change anything.