Following the recent civil unrest in Egypt, WSPA’s local Member Societies have mobilised support for equines facing starvation after weeks of disruption to the economy.
Whilst Egyptians celebrate triumph over their old regime, the economic disruption arising from weeks of protest has left its toll on its working equines, many employed in tourism, particularly in urban, inland areas.
WSPA has offered our support to our Member Societies on the ground in Egypt, The Brooke and the Egyptian Society of Animal Friends (ESAF), with both coordinating emergency feeding and veterinary care efforts to help at least 2,000 working animals.
Currently five Brooke mobile teams are in major centres affected by the collapse of tourism and general economic disruption; in Giza, Edfu, Aswan and Luxor. In one day alone, on 17 February, weekly emergency food rations were given to more than 650 animals in the four cities, whilst approximately 600 received veterinary care. In addition, veterinary treatment – including de-worming, wound and hoof care –was made available to more than a thousand horses, donkeys and mules across Egypt.
Both The Brooke and ESAF are appealing for funds to provide enough feed for animals in the coming months until tourists return, as well as volunteers to assist on the ground.
One Edfu local, Hamada Hussein, a horse owner and father of four said: “This is the first time my horse has eaten nutritional food since the demonstrations began. My horse was starving and not able to work – the Brooke has saved his life and mine too as he is my main source of income.”
