
A group of alcoholic homeless people keep themselves warm on the hot water pipes coming from the outskirts' power station, west of Harhorin market (UB).

Gambold, also called Sharaa (Yellow) inside his group, drinking pure base of alcohol of 96º early in the morning, west of Harhorin market (UB).

Ogoonoo smoking a cigarrette inside the hole where she usually spends the day with her husband Byambadorg, next to Sukhbaatar Square (UB).

View of the holes and the hot water pipes where homeless alcohol addicts live during the winter, west of Harhorin market (UB).

Tuvshee, who has been living in the street for over 14 years, plays with Batbold after having drink heavily, west of Harhorin market (UB).

The hot water tubes that homeless people use to be warm can reach temperatures over 80º, often causing burns in different parts of the body that usually get infected because of the lack of attention (UB).

Sukhea and his wife Maenga are the owners of the alcohol that is sold at the tubes west of Harhorin market. They buy it from China and sell it not only to homeless people, but to ordinary citizens who don't have enough with vodka and need a stronger beverage (UB).

Munguntuya and her husband Amarbayar, alias Karate, sleeping in the hole where they live, next to Jamyan street. They have a daughter that lives with Munguntuya's sister (UB).

A former street-children Uuganaa, 24, shows proud his homemade Buddhist tattoo and the self-made injuries' scars, both made at his childhood as a symbol of his bravery (UB).

Aiyurgzan and his adopted disabled daughter (nowadays turned into his wife) Tamirbulgan, both alcoholics, at their home, and abandoned container next to Circus area in downtown of Ulan Bator.

Amarksahan lives with Batsakhan and Miiga at the ger area, north to Harhorin market, in a 4 square meter shack made of wood and cardboard. They are the high class of the alcohol dependent homeless around Harhorin market (UB).

Otgontsetseg (30) lives in the street with his couple,Tugultur (33). Both are from Erdenet city and came together to UB. She is pregnant of 6 months, but keeps drinking heavily, Songinkhairkhan District (UB).

A drunken woman in a sober cell at the police station of Bayangol District. This is the only sober cell that remains open in Mongolia where troublesome drunken women are forced to spend the time enough to be sober. They are undressed not to commit suicide (UB).

Alcoholic men in a group therapy at the Center of Mental Health and Narcologycal (CMHN) of Ulan Bator.

Batbold under treatment takes some pills to quit drinking alcohol. Center of Mental Health and Narcologycal (CMHN) of Ulan Bator.

Khaliun is against her will at Maanit detention and medical center, 100 kilometers south of Ulan Bator, under the threat of the judge of taking her son away from her if she keeps drinking heavily. She must stay at Maaint between 6 and 24 months, depending on her behaviour.

A drunken woman in a sober cell at the police station of Bayangol District. This is the only sober cell that remains open in Mongolia where troublesome drunken women are forced to spend the time enough to be sober. They are undressed not to commit suicide (UB).

Ouyndeleg (35) lives with his youngest son, Tumenulzii (14), at the shelter that the religious organization Betel has for alcoholic men at the northwest part of Ulan Bator. Thay have been living there for 8 months together with 34 more men. Tumenulzii is the only teenager there (he's not an alcoholic).
FOTOPRES’09 GRANT
Winter in the capital of Mongolia, Ulan Bator. The outer temperature is -40º. Underground, bunch of men and women crowded around the heat of the hot water tubes that cross the city. They are alcoholics; they live buried even before they’re dead.








































