Help has arrived for thousands of animals suffering after devastating Sri Lanka floods and landslides
News
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.
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.
Gajender K Sharma, India Country Director at World Animal Protection says:
“The scale of this disaster is catastrophic for both people and animals. Our disaster response team and specialist vets from several countries, including India, 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.
Find out more about the work we are doing to protect animals during and after disasters, click here.
By helping animals, we will also help the people who rely so heavily on them for their livelihoods, transport and food. Gajender K Sharma, India Country Director