Sudan: ICRC vaccinates more livestock in Darfur

Over 350,000 head of livestock have already been vaccinated since June 2010. The aim of the new round of vaccinations, which has just begun in Dar es Salam and Dar Zaghava, North Darfur, is to immunize another 350,000 animals by early 2011.

Livestock health has been a major source of concern for nomadic communities in Darfur. Since conflict broke out in 2003, people who depend on livestock for their income have been severely affected by limited access to traditional migratory routes, grazing areas and veterinary services.

The ICRC, the Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries and community leaders therefore set up a programme to bring improved veterinary care for sheep, goats, camels and cattle to the breeders and pastoralists of the three Darfur states. "Our goal is to assist Darfur communities in the most remote areas, who depend so much on livestock, to preserve and improve their livelihood," said Ursula Kayali, an ICRC livestock specialist based in Khartoum. "The ICRC donated over a million doses of vaccines for the campaign, which has directly benefited 42,000 people all over Darfur."

Since 2005, the ICRC has sponsored the training of 200 community animal-health workers who strive to deliver basic veterinary services in such remote pastoral areas as Dar Zaghawa, North Darfur, and Unity locality, South Darfur, which are beyond the reach of state veterinarians.

The campaign takes into account the government's priorities in disease prevention and animal health-care delivery. Pastoralists are kept informed about the campaign by local radio stations.

In Southern Sudan, 50,000 animals in Pibor County, Jonglei State, were vaccinated by the ICRC working in cooperation with the Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries and Veterinarians Without Borders during the January-April drought that severely harmed people depending on livestock for their income. At least 5,000 pastoralists benefited from this campaign. In addition, 20 community animal-health workers took part in an ICRC-sponsored refresher course on animal health and were provided with veterinary kits for treating and vaccinating animals.

For further information, please contact:
Aleksandra Matijevic Mosimann, ICRC Khartoum, tel: +249 1 83 476 464 or +249 912 170 576
Adil Sharif (for Arabic), ICRC Khartoum, tel. +249 1 83 476 464 or +249 912 137764
Adebayo Olowo Ake, ICRC Juba, tel. +249 811823412 or 249 912178946
Vassily Fadeev, ICRC Geneva, tel: +41 22 730 34 53 or +41 79 536 92 48