Colombia: horses and mules save lives in conflict zones

05-11-2012 Photo gallery

For mountain communities in the southwestern Cauca region of Colombia, horses and mules are valued companions. Indeed, because of their isolated location, these communities are completely dependent on their beasts of burden, which transport goods, water and harvested crops, as well as people who are injured and sick. But the armed conflict and resulting shortages mean that caring for these animals is bottom of the list of priorities for these communities. ICRC staff recently spent two days in the Suárez and Morales districts of Cauca, where they vaccinated 250 animals and ran workshops to teach people to look after them properly. The participants learnt to shoe, feed and care for their animals.

- Three hours after leaving Cali, the road becomes impassable to cars. At this point, a group of indigenous people with 50 mules and horses are waiting to meet the ICRC team. Goods and people are transferred to the animals to complete the journey.
  © ICRC / E. Tovar / V-P-CO-E-02360
- The terrain forces the local people to use mules and horses to transport harvested crops, goods and even people who are sick. It takes another five hours to reach the first vaccination site: El Chirriadero.
  © ICRC / E. Tovar / V-P-CO-E-02361
- ICRC staff, with the help of the local community, make arrangements to vaccinate horses and mules in El Chirriadero. In addition to this treatment, the owners receive honey to feed their animals and horseshoes and tools with which to shoe them.
  © ICRC / E. Tovar / V-P-CO-E-02362
- Crowded into the local school, sitting, standing and peering through windows and gaps, the indigenous community learn from ICRC farming experts. The aim is to teach them to treat their animals using the medicines provided and to offer guidance about how to look after them. Supplies are then distributed.
  © ICRC / E.Tovar / V-P-CO-E-02363
- In El Chirriadero, more than 100 animals are vaccinated against equine encephalitis, influenza and tetanus. Since these are the most common diseases in southwestern Colombia, and expensive to vaccinate against, the project makes a real difference to the community.
  © ICRC / E. Tovar / V-P-CO-E-02364
- A local boy who is a farrier, like his father before him, tries out the tools and horseshoes provided by the ICRC, saying: "These tools will outlive the horse!"
  © ICRC / E. Tovar / V-P-CO-E-02365
- The second vaccination and training day gets under way. The ICRC team have transported the rest of the materials from the nearest city, over three hours away. Here in the Matecaña district, indigenous locals and farmers are waiting with more than 50 mules and horses.
  © ICRC / E. Tovar / V-P-CO-E-02366
- This part of the country is remote and the terrain precipitous. The animals are the only way to transport the materials to Matecaña.
  © ICRC / E. Tovar / V-P-CO-E-02367
- The final stage of this activity involves supplying indigenous locals and farmers with medicines as well as horseshoes, nails, files, knives and pliers to shoe their animals.
  © ICRC / E. Tovar / V-P-CO-E-02368

Colombia: horses and mules save lives in conflict zones

05-11-2012 Photo gallery

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