South Sudan: vaccinating cattle to protect tribal wealth

01-08-2011 Photo gallery

Cattle are currency in rural South Sudan, Africa's newest republic. Tribal communities use them for food, milk, dowries and trading. But their livelihoods are under threat due to disease, drought and conflicts over migratory routes and grazing land.

- Wherever you look in Pibor County, Jonglei State, one of southern Sudan's most remote areas, you see cattle. They are the herder's wealth. A poor man has 50 cattle, a rich man 500. But herders are superstitious and won't say how many cattle they own.
  © ICRC / I. Edelstein
The ICRC is working with government and local partners to carry out a mass vaccination programme of cattle belonging to the Murle tribe, a purely pastoral community whose livelihood is totally dependent on livestock. The organization is vaccinating over 100,000 cattle before the start of the rainy season.
- Pibor County, Jonglei State. These women are from the Murle tribe, a purely pastoral community. "Without cattle you can't find a wife," says a herder. A typical dowry would amount to 50 cows and the Murle can have up to 10 wives.
  © ICRC / I. Edelstein / sd-e-02425
The ICRC is working with government and local partners to carry out a mass vaccination programme of cattle belonging to the Murle tribe, a purely pastoral community whose livelihood is totally dependent on livestock. The organization is vaccinating over 100,000 cattle before the start of the rainy season.
- Pibor County, Jonglei State. Murle herders round up their cattle for vaccination. The cattle are vulnerable to bacterial infections during the rainy season and if the rains come late, they can die from drought.
  © ICRC / I. Edelstein
The ICRC is working with government and local partners to carry out a mass vaccination programme of cattle belonging to the Murle tribe, a purely pastoral community whose livelihood is totally dependent on livestock. The organization is vaccinating over 100,000 cattle before the start of the rainy season.
- Pibor County, Jonglei State. Field officer Sarah Poni briefs a group of vaccinators from the Murle tribe. On average, 2,000 cattle are vaccinated per day.
  © ICRC / I. Edelstein
The ICRC is working with government and local partners to carry out a mass vaccination programme of cattle belonging to the Murle tribe, a purely pastoral community whose livelihood is totally dependent on livestock. The organization is vaccinating over 100,000 cattle before the start of the rainy season.
- Pibor County, Jonglei State. The ICRC buys the vaccines, supervises the cold chain and works in partnership with the Ministry of Animal Resources and the German NGO Vets without Borders.
  © ICRC / I. Edelstein / sd-e-02421
The ICRC is working with government and local partners to carry out a mass vaccination programme of cattle belonging to the Murle tribe, a purely pastoral community whose livelihood is totally dependent on livestock. The organization is vaccinating over 100,000 cattle before the start of the rainy season.
- Pibor County, Jonglei State. The vaccinators are trained by the Ministry of Animal Resources and the ICRC. They are paid and given food and household items.
  © ICRC / I. Edelstein
The ICRC is working with government and local partners to carry out a mass vaccination programme of cattle belonging to the Murle tribe, a purely pastoral community whose livelihood is totally dependent on livestock. The organization is vaccinating over 100,000 cattle before the start of the rainy season.
- Pibor County, Jonglei State. Herders help to calm the cattle driven into a makeshift pen before they are vaccinated. In 2009 herders suffered substantial financial losses when many cattle died from disease, so they recognize the importance of vaccination.
  © ICRC / I. Edelstein
The ICRC is working with government and local partners to carry out a mass vaccination programme of cattle belonging to the Murle tribe, a purely pastoral community whose livelihood is totally dependent on livestock. The organization is vaccinating over 100,000 cattle before the start of the rainy season.
- Pibor County, Jonglei State. A healthy cow sells for between 900 and 1200 Sudanese pounds (300 to 400 USD) at market. Markets are held during the dry season as tracks become impassable when it rains.
  © ICRC / I. Edelstein
The ICRC is working with government and local partners to carry out a mass vaccination programme of cattle belonging to the Murle tribe, a purely pastoral community whose livelihood is totally dependent on livestock. The organization is vaccinating over 100,000 cattle before the start of the rainy season.
- Pibor County, Jonglei State. During the dry season, herders follow the rivers and swamps in Pibor County. When water levels drop, tensions can rise as the herders encroach on grazing land belonging to other tribes.
  © ICRC / I. Edelstein
The ICRC is working with government and local partners to carry out a mass vaccination programme of cattle belonging to the Murle tribe, a purely pastoral community whose livelihood is totally dependent on livestock. The organization is vaccinating over 100,000 cattle before the start of the rainy season.

South Sudan: vaccinating cattle to protect tribal wealth

01-08-2011 Photo gallery

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