Help has arrived for thousands of animals suffering after devastating Sri Lanka floods and landslides
Press release
Emergency vet kits and assistance are being distributed in Sri Lanka to relieve animal suffering and protect the livelihoods of thousands of people that desperately need healthy animals to survive and rebuild their lives.
International animal welfare charity World Animal Protection is organizing and leading mobile veterinary response teams into flood and landslide affected areas of southwest Sri Lanka to provide emergency veterinary care to both livestock and pets. This disaster response work will directly provide lifesaving care for thousands animals.
The conditions animals are facing is unreported as national and local efforts focus on the humanitarian crisis. However, as animals suffer the same way as people, the need is perceived for food, medicine and medical treatment in addition to preventing disease.
Steven Clegg, International Response Manager at World Animal Protection says:
“The scale of this disaster is catastrophic for both people and animals. Our disaster response team and specialist vets are on the ground to give desperately needed help.
“Animals are in dire need; injured, starving, open to the elements and at high risk of disease. By helping them, we will also help the people who rely so heavily on them for their livelihoods, transport and food.”
The World Animal Protection team is in south west Sri Lanka and will provide:
Immediate assistance to animals on the ground injured from the floods and meeting basic needs for survival.
Provide emergency vet kit items which will include dressings and treatment for wounded animals, treatment of diarrhea, pneumonia and other potential post flood diseases.
Assess the wider and longer term needs for the animals in partnership with the government.
While disaster response rightly prioritizes people’s immediate needs, the long-term recovery from disasters is inextricably linked with the well-being of their animals. Communities and people affected by the floods in Sri Lanka heavily rely on agriculture to make ends meet and in this critical stage, the recovery from the floods by saving animals will provide stability for their future.
ENDS
Notes to editors
For more information, photos and videos or to arrange an interview please contact Kai Akram on +44 (0) 7772 296 256 or email kaiakram@worldanimalprotection.org
Emergency Vet Kit items for this work are focused on wound dressings and treatment for wounded animals, treatment of diarrhoea, pneumonia and other potential post flood disease. Within the kits will be the following, though not limited to this list: Cephalexin; Deworming: Albendazole; Deworming: Ivermectin; Enrofloxacin; Multivitamin: injection; Oxytetracycline; Sulpha trimethoprim; Wound spray. Both pet and livestock feed will be included in the emergency vet kits but quantity and ratio is TBD.
About 1 billion of the world’s poorest people rely on horses, livestock and other animals for food, transport and their livelihoods. Domestic animals play their part too, providing valued companionship.
World Animal Protection has been working actively with governments, communities and individuals in disaster management since 1964. Out of 250 pieces of disaster response work across 50 years, we have provided aid to over 7 million animals.
Steven Clegg, International Response Manager at World Animal Protection says: “The scale of this disaster is catastrophic for both people and animals. Our disaster response team and specialist vets are on the ground to give desperately needed help. “Animals are in dire need; injured, starving, open to the elements and at high risk of disease. By helping them, we will also help the people who rely so heavily on them for their livelihoods, transport and food.