SPANA gets working animals back on their feet in Darfur
05 December 2005
As the latest round of peace talks aimed at ending the conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan continues, a UK-based charity announced it had won its fight to save the remaining livestock belonging to refugees in one of the regions largest camps, after some 10,000 donkeys died there last year of starvation and thirst.
SPANA (The Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad), was asked to intervene in the camps in 2004 after discovering that such huge numbers of working animals had simply been allowed to starve to death. During a recent visit to their project in the Abu Showk camp near El Fasher in Darfur, SPANA was told that since the day they became involved, not a single animal had died.
In September 2004 a United Nations livestock assessment found that 75% of all donkeys in the refugee camps died during the 2004 pre-rains season from a “…lack of feed, water and stress.” In order to tackle the problem, SPANA created a stockpile of 70,000 bundles of fodder which were distributed to livestock owners in the refugee camp. It also employed 12 women to maintain a register of livestock and trained them in worming and vaccinating the animals, along with a Sudanese vet.
Jeremy Hulme of SPANA said: “When we saw the scale of the problem in October 2004 we knew we had to act quickly. For many of the refugees, their animals were the only belongings they had left - they were desperate to keep them alive and desperate for our help. More importantly, we knew that if they were ever to return to their villages, they would need their animals more than ever.”
“The success of this project sends a clear message that the interests of animals does not need to be separated from those of people in emergency situations. By helping animals, you can help people as well.”
SPANA also funds a training scheme for paravets (like paramedics but trained veterinary staff) and provides them with a revolving stock of veterinary drugs and medicine. Paravets provide basic veterinary care such as worming and vaccination of animals in rural areas where qualified vets are scarce. This anticipates a day when the refugees can return to their villages and be provided for by a community member with veterinary training.
Good rains in August and September this year have resulted in abundant fodder for working animals, which should last through to next year. Through its partners in Sudan, Practical Action (previously ITDG) and Kids4Kids, SPANA is continuing to monitor the increasingly volatile situation in Darfur, which recently resulted in its Sudanese vet being held captive by bandits for 3 weeks.
SPANA’s help is being increasingly requested in emergency situations. It has provided assistance in the form of veterinary staff and treatment following the conflicts in Kosovo, Iraq and Zimbabwe. It has also provided emergency assistance following the earthquake in Al Hoceima, Morocco in 2004 and flooding in the Tatwine Valley in Morocco this summerFor More Information - Simon Pope - Head of Communications, SPANA - 020 7629 2689 or 07811 404 874
Or email simon@spana.org