23/02/2001 (Agence Europe) - The MEP from the Bonino List Olivier Dupuis questioned the European Commission over its intentions in the face of the "economic and humanitarian disaster" that threatens Mongolia. In a Communiqué, he recalls that the extremely tough winter that is affecting this country for the second consecutive year (in 2000, it provoked the death of 2.4 million head of cattle) leads, in the absence of "rapid and massive" emergency aid, to the death of around 12 million head of cattle in the coming weeks. Mr Dupuis recalls that the EU, India, Israel and other countries have already answered the call made by the Mongolian government and the UN, but notes that these contributions must be placed in the context of aid requirements estimated at USD 8.7 million, excluding the sending of food stuffs and material, of an estimated value of USD 4 million.