Leading British animal charity responds to Sudan emergency
08 October 2004
SPANA, the Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad, has launched an emergency operation to save thousands of horses and donkeys from death by starvation in the Sudan.SPANA's Chief Executive, Jeremy Hulme, and Veterinary Director, Karen Jones, are currently visiting refugee camps in North Darfur to save what remains of a dwindling number of working animals which are absolutely vital to the livelihood of the people in this strife-torn territory.
Speaking from the Abu Shawk refugee camp this morning, Jeremy says: "The situation here is far worse than we had either imagined or been told. Contrary to what the world is being told, the political situation is extremely bad still and the people are not returning to their homes.
"The harvest is probably the worst it's ever been and to add to the problems of the refugees, vast numbers of their animals are either dying of starvation or have been stolen. This time last year, the Abu Shawk refugee camp held 50,000 displaced people and 12,000 donkeys. By April of this year, the number of donkeys had fallen to 2,200 and now there are only 1,300. What the outside world doesn't seem to realise is that the people of North Darfur cannot survive without their pack animals who are needed to carry water, firewood, and plough the fields etc.
"The UN FAO representative, John Omukuba, has told me that each family needs at least 2 donkeys before they can go back to their farms and start rebuilding their lives. It's quite obvious that the figures aren't stacking up. SPANA is doing all it can to get veterinary supplies and fodder to the remaining donkeys in the refugee camps to try to maintain their numbers before the next dry season early next year, but with winter approaching, time is fast running out for these animals and without our help, many will simply die."
SPANA, whose resources are already overstretched, has launched an emergency appeal for additional funding to enable it carry out the aid which is so desperately needed for the welfare of these animals and the survival of the people of North Darfur.
For More Information - Simon Pope - Head of Communications, SPANA - 020 7629 2689 or 07811 404 874
Or email simon@spana.org