AS most people know, an appalling tragedy is unfolding in Mozambique and every right-minded person will sympathise with the unfortunate people there.

But help, although it may be inadequate, is being given.

A similar situation -- though the circumstances are different and on a smaller scale -- is now affecting much of Mongolia. The temperature has plummeted to 55 degrees below zero, resulting in the deaths of thousands of assorted animals and other forms of wildlife.

In the harshest winter in living memory there, people are falling ill and dying. The Mongols are a hard and stoical people and mainly nomads. There are cases reported recently of herdsmen walking in excess of a hundred miles searching for grass for their horses.

Unfortunately, the authorities in the capital, Ulan Bator, can do little to alleviate the dire situation of the Mongol nomads.

Whenever a tragedy occurs anywhere in Africa or in the sub continent of India, the much maligned countries of western Europe and America rush to their aid. And this is in addition to the billions of dollars with which we constantly refill their begging bowls.

Surely, a little help could be found for the unfortunate nomads of Mongolia.

J FIELDING, St Cecilia Street, Great Harwood.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.