UK Charity Provides Aid Relief To Working Animals in Lebanon
25/08/2006
(London - 25/08/2006) A British charity today gave details of their relief aid operation into Lebanon to provide veterinary treatment to working animals and livestock affected by the recent conflict.
SPANA (Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad) has an established equine facility based in neighbouring Syria, associated with the main vet school. In response to requests from within Lebanon, a team from SPANA Syria began work in Lebanon last weekend. A SPANA vehicle laden with veterinary supplies and concentrated animal feed has been operating in two rural areas of South-East Lebanon – Nabatiyeh and Marjayoun – in and around the villages of Kefer Tibneet, Arnoon and Yahmor.
SPANA Chief Executive Jeremy Hulme said; “Initial reports to us suggested that there were a number of animals with conflict-related injuries in the region. We also heard that some of the cattle had mastitis from not having been milked for as long as 30 days since their owners fled their farms to avoid the conflict. Like many of the places in which we work this is a very rural area where communities and families are dependent on their animals for a livelihood.”
SPANA added that a further truckload of feed will be sent over the border at a later stage, along with a further team of vets if they are required.
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. Over the last year it has continued its work in the refugee camps in Darfur Sudan, and intervened to assist starving livestock belonging to desert nomads affected by the drought in North-East Kenya. It has also provided emergency assistance following the earthquake in Al Hoceima, Morocco in 2004 and flooding in the Tatwine Valley in Morocco in 2005.
For More Information – Simon Pope +44 (0)20 7831 3999 / +44 (0)20 7269 2689 or +44 (0)7811 404 874 simon@spana.org or www.spana.org