WSPA - Animals in Disasters Blog

Drought relief work in Mexico begins next phase

As we updated a few weeks ago, our work continues in drought-stricken areas of Chihuahua. Livestock in the region continue to struggle for survival. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alongside our local colleagues, we held a second community meeting with key stakeholders, government officials and farmers where we laid the groundwork for the next phase of our intervention. We also distributed a further 100 mineral blocks to meet immediate needs of the most vulnerable animals.

A video sent to us by our colleagues in the WSPA Latin America office tells the story and the impact of our support.

 

The next stage of our will be implemented over the coming weeks.  We will build two medium dam-like retention ponds to improve water management, rehabilitate large portions of pastureland and help replenish underground aquifers.

Six communities across the region will benefit from the dam construction and the resulting improved pastures. We anticipate our work will directly benefit 220 families and 2500 animals in the region.

Please continue to check back for more updates as we continue our work on the ground in northern Mexico.

Fiji flood relief under way as new team deploys to assess developing situation in Colombia

As we reported last week, our Disaster Response Team has been deployed once more to provide assistance in flood-impacted areas of Fiji, which was hit by two tropical storms in as many months. 

Preliminary reports indicate that the second and more severe storm has resulted in the worst flooding the island has seen in 30 years. This has had a devastating impact on crops, people and animals – especially in the hardest hit regions of the Western Division. 

WSPA is hard at work on the ground with our local partners to provide much needed aid to thousands of vulnerable animals in the most impacted areas.

We will be distributing emergency feed and veterinary supplies for livestock in the most severely flood-affected areas, which will benefit more than 5,000 cattle and horses and up to 20,000 goats and sheep. We’ll also provide support for a veterinary volunteer in offering direct services to communities who are unable to bring animals into a vet clinic.

As part of our risk reduction work in the country, we are currently compiling information and statistical data on livestock, and creating tools which will be used in the development of a database. This work will support the Fijian government in their emergency planning processes and ultimately help save animal lives in the future. 

Finally, WSPA is also providing veterinary supplies and food to the SPCA Fiji office in the city of Nadi. The office was affected by the floods and is struggling to meet the needs of a surge in companion animals impacted by the disaster. Our support will benefit up to 100 cats and dogs.

In total—across both our interventions so far this year—WSPA is supporting an estimated 29,000 flood-affected animals across the most devastated areas of Fiji.

In addition to our on-going work in Fiji, WSPA’s Disaster Management team is also preparing a new joint deployment of colleagues from our Costa Rica and Colombian offices to assess a developing situation in Cota, Colombia. Wide-spread rainy season flooding resulting from La Niña phenomenon is expected to continue. 

Last year’s floods impacted hundreds of thousands of farm animals. We’ll be working closely with officials in Colombia to determine how we can best provide support to the most impacted communities and animals.

We will keep you updated as we continue our work in both regions over the next weeks.

Disaster Alert - Earthquakes in Indonesia

Two powerful earthquakes and a series of aftershocks struck the coast of Indonesia’s Aceh province causing panic, but the tsunami threat has diminished and local authorities are carefully monitoring the situation.

WSPA’s disaster management team are assessing the impact and have made contact with partners in the region to find out more. Whilst members of the response team are currently responding to the recent cyclone in Fiji, other members are on standby to deploy to Indonesia if necessary.

We will keep you up to date with developments.

Fiji flooded once more

Our Disaster Response Team is preparing to land in Fiji again after the island was hit by severe flooding for the second time this year.

In February we visited the island to assess the impact of the flooding and provide emergency feed, but during the fragile recovery phase the island was affected by heavy rain and strong winds caused by Cyclone Daphene. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Much of the islands crops and pastures have been destroyed and there is concern for those animals in poor conditions as a result of the cyclone. Once on the ground our team will work in the Western District of the island with members of the Fiji SPCA to assess the impact on animals.   

We will update you once the team have reached the impacted areas.