WSPA - Animals in Disasters Blog

Providing food for Pakistan’s animals

A quick update on Pakistan for everyone who has been following the unfolding tragedy in the country since the floods hit a few weeks ago. WSPA is buying food for over 2,000 sheep, cows and goats in one of the main flooded areas. The floodwaters are still not receding and more rain is falling on the destroyed crops, which is leaving a massive shortage of animal food. Volunteers from the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences’ (UVAS) and the Vets Care Club (VCC) have agreed to act as a third party for us and distribute the food to animals across five districts over the next two weeks.

Pakistan update

We’re giving a small amount of funding to a team from the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) in Lahore. They’re assessing the situation, and treating and vaccinating some animals. Disease is now a serious risk in the hardest hit areas, and this will affect what we decide to do next.

Keeping the lines open as more floods hit Pakistan

As the crisis in Pakistan worsens, we’re talking to animal welfare groups on the ground to see how we can help. The floods have affected millions of animals and people so far, and 1,500 people are dead: there’s no doubt that the need is huge. For security reasons, we can’t send a WSPA team to Pakistan – but we do have a disaster liaison officer (DLO) assessing the damage, and there will be other ways for us to help.

Lots of the groups working in Pakistan are dealing with emergencies at the moment, and many have lost staff. When a clearer picture emerges, we’ll be able to decide who is best placed to rescue trapped and injured animals to help rebuild people’s lives.