The Asian Development Bank approved a $100 million loan to help Mongolia shift toward risk reduction and preparedness before disasters occur. The project aims to strengthen the disaster-management capacity of the National Emergency Management Agency and local communities.

Financing will support modern firefighting vehicles and equipment as well as search-and-rescue operations. ADB also plans to upgrade the Integrated Disaster Management System with geographic information systems, remote sensing, artificial-intelligence tools and improved early-warning capabilities. The announcement says the approach is intended to limit impacts on lives and livelihoods as natural hazards become more frequent and severe in Mongolia.