ULAANBAATOR: Hundreds of Mongolians have braved frigid weather to stage a protest in the country's capital demanding that the government do more to address worsening air pollutionthey fear is sickening their children and shortening their lives.
The protesters gathered Monday in a public square in front of government offices, holding banners with slogans such as "Let's give fresh air to our future children," "Smog is silent killer" and "We can't breathe."
PurevkhuuTserendorj, one of the protest's organizers, said, "We are desperate and we are organizing this demonstration to make authorities feel our frustration and anger."
According to UNICEF, the United Nations' children's agency, air pollution is linked to the three diseases that have resulted in the most "lost life-years" in Mongolia.
