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2ND DEC 2008
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 British veterinary charity come to the rescue of Eastern Chad villagers British veterinary charity “SPANA” (Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad) is today highlighting the importance of dealing with livestock in emergency situations.
The charity has been called in to resolve a serious problem in Eastern Chad after hundreds of thousands of refugees, fleeing from the neighbouring province of Darfur in Sudan, brought their own animals into the country and swamped their already limited natural resources.
SPANA has been asked to draw up proposals to safeguard the livestock population against future shortages, possibly by encouraging local villagers to harvest some of the relatively plentiful forage during the aftermath of the rainy season, and sell it to the refugees.
The British public supports the involvement of a veterinary care agency in emergency situations.
 According to new research many people in Great Britain would be more likely to donate to emergency appeals if they knew that a veterinary charity was involved in the response.37% of people questioned had donated to the Tsunami appeal, 12% to the Pakistan earthquake appeal and 8% to the Hurricane Katrina Appeal. But when asked if they were more or less likely to support a group of British Charities working together on an emergency if a veterinary care agency were involved, 50% said that they would be more likely to do so.
It is hoped that the plan put together by SPANA will sustain and support livestock in the region, as competition for natural resources has resulted in violence, theft and aggression from local Chadian villagers, desperate to save their animals from starvation. Access to sufficient water and grazing resources for livestock during the annual dry season of April–June was cited as the most serious issue facing livestock owners.
Earlier this year 30% of all livestock in one refugee camp (Oure Cassoni) died of starvation. Jeremy Hulme, Chief Executive of SPANA, who was part of the mission said: “Livestock are absolutely fundamental to the people of Eastern Chad but the influx of refugees from Darfur, with around 600,000 of their own animals has resulted in conflict over the already scant resources in this desert region.
When people’s livelihoods are their livestock, they are quite prepared to fight a battle every day to sustain them."We heard how refugees encountered violence, theft and aggression from local Chadian villagers every time they left the safety of the camps and took their animals out to graze of collect firewood.
Equally, we spoke with villagers who said their own animals were dying of starvation in increased numbers, as there wasn’t enough grazing to go round, particularly in the dry season."
For more information visit www.spana.org
Provided by The Student Zone (United Kingdom) |
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