We have received this diary account from WSPA Asia Pacific vet Dr. Damian Woodberry who witnessed the difference that disaster preparedness training has made to two Vietnamese villages and their animals following recent flooding.
“The two agricultural villages of Quynh Luu and Yen Dinh in Vietnam’s Nghe An Province are accustomed to annual floods, but not on the scale of those seen this year, the worst in the province for 100 years. Despite the devastation wrought on properties, with more than 20 homes swept away and many more completely flooded, prior preparedness work with communities paid off, with animals, upon which villagers depend for their livelihoods, spared from the powerful floodwaters. Cattle, buffalo, pigs, chickens and ducks are all raised in the affected villages.
When Tropical Storm Haima arrived unexpectedly early and ferociously at the end of June, residents of both villages were able to respond immediately due to a WSPA seminar on Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards (LEGS), attended by representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, held only two months prior to the onset of the floods.
The representatives recommended to the local authorities that they should integrate LEGS into their plans for early warning and natural disaster preparedness. When the danger of flooding became apparent, villagers took their livestock to safety, saving the lives of both humans and animals.
"The flood waters came extremely fast and were overwhelming,” villager Vee Tee Jian told me. “We had to flee to a friend's home. We moved one buffalo, four pigs, and 50 chickens up to higher ground. The pigs had to eat grass instead of their usual feed. It was very difficult during the floods, but we're lucky that both the people and animals survived. We are grateful to WSPA for their assistance and their donation of animal feed, because buying animal feed now is expensive,” she said, whilst hoisting a large bag of animal feed onto her back to take home.
Following April’s LEGS seminar, requests from the Vietnamese government began pouring in, asking for help in aiding rural agricultural communities. After conducting a Disaster Assessment Needs Analysis (DANA), we responded by supplying 85,150 kg of swine feed, medical equipment and refrigerators and iceboxes for medicine. We also provided 583 plastic sheets to cover animal pens which are needed after the rainy season ends when villages situated on elevated areas can experience intense cold. The equipment benefitted local farmers and allowed representatives from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to have an easier time doing their jobs, treating potential fatal diseases.
Vian Vanlub, Assistant Administrator for Agricultural Development from the Ministry of Agriculture and stationed in Nghe An province, thanked us for our intervention. “As soon as our request for help was sent, WSPA responded immediately. I'd like to give my heartfelt thanks on behalf of both villages. The assistance and knowledge given by WSPA has changed the way things are done, and not only were the animals saved, the lives of the farmers were too, as their livelihood depended on their animals,” he says. “The way WSPA works is a fine model for all government officials, who need to be better able to help those in the more isolated, far-off areas. We can learn from WSPA about reaching the people who raise these animals and giving them more hope.”
