Source:  News Release

Emergency aid for donkeys hit by drought in East Africa

An emergency programme funded by international animal welfare charity the Brooke, is to help working donkeys at risk of dehydration, starvation and disease in drought-hit northern Kenya.

“Water sources have dried up, pastures are rapidly diminishing and donkeys and livestock are dying”, said Tania Dennison, the Brooke’s Africa Programme Advisor. “Donkeys are a casualty of the drought, as they trek longer distances without food, water or rest. They transport water for their owners and other livestock but often miss out on water themselves.” said Tania.

The arid and semi-arid Mandera County has been without rainfall for sixth months and a further three months drought is predicted, leading the government to declare a state of emergency.

The Brooke’s partner, Practical Action, is an international development charity working in one of the worst affected regions in north east Kenya. The Brooke’s emergency funding of £23,000 means Practical Action can run a two month drought response programme, specially aimed at working donkeys which are vital to people’s livelihoods.

At least 5,000 donkeys will receive supplementary feeding, improved access to veterinary treatments, including dewormers, and vitamin supplements aimed at reducing opportunistic diseases and infections associated with drought.

Crucially, a fuel subsidy will also be agreed with five water users associations who operate motorised systems at water boreholes. This will ensure donkeys have greater access to water in the area and will work towards the Brooke’s long-term aim to raise the status of donkeys.

Community based animal healthcare workers will be involved in training workshops to improve their knowledge of early warning signs of the effects of drought on donkeys and response actions to drought, as well as undergoing refresher training on emergency veterinary services in ten of the worst affected areas.

The Brooke recognises that women are often the main carers of working donkeys in communities. Five women’s groups will be trained on donkey husbandry and methods for coping with drought.

Additionally, increased access to veterinary health services to cross border equines will meet the needs of 2,000 new donkeys expected to arrive across the Somali and Ethiopian borders with their displaced owners.

“Although the Kenyan government has declared a national disaster, their interventions do not detect the pain and suffering or address the welfare needs of donkeys affected by drought. Donkeys are the main working animals in the region and for the first time in the history of the region these typically hardy animals are dying”, said Abdul Haro, Practical Action’s Area Coordinator.