Rescuing animals during disasters - Southeast Asia
When people are prepared, animals are protectedcatastrophic flooding in Pakistan—ifaw rushes aid
catastrophic flooding in Pakistan—ifaw rushes aid
September 14, 2022
aid to shelter dogs and livestock in flood-hit areas
Last week, IFAW’s international partner Dog Trust Worldwide (DTW) sent an urgent request for our guidance. Lucky Animal Protection Shelter (LAPS) in Pakistan requested help from DTW after flood water swamped their shelter. Staff rescued the shelter’s 250 dogs and moved them to a temporary location. IFAW has awarded LAPS with an emergency grant of USD$20,000 to support expenses at their temporary shelter, including rent, dog food and veterinary care. We also provided guidance on how to decontaminate their flooded shelter; they are now working to clean and disinfect the facility, with hopes of returning in the coming weeks.
Since the first floods began inundating Pakistan, IFAW supporters have helped us respond immediately to help animals:
- We rushed funding to longtime local partner, Education, Awareness and Community Health (EACH). The grant supports feed purchase and distribution for 200+ families and 1,000 farm animals in the worst-hit areas of Chiniot District, province of Punjab.
- Local EACH responder teams are currently assessing damage and animal needs in other Punjab districts and an additional $36,000 was granted for the purchase and distribution of fodder in 12 of the most impacted districts of Sindh Province.
- We rushed funding to support emergency food and care for 6,000 farm animals in the Toba Tek Singh and Jhang districts.
prior updates >>
Caption: In 2013, IFAW partnered with local humanitarian group Ravi Foundation to provide relief for animals and local farmers. © IFAW-RAVI/A. Masih
September 2nd, 2022
Pakistan is currently experiencing its worst flooding in history. Floodwaters have submerged around a third of the country in what is being called a “climate catastrophe.”
Local media report more than 3,000 human casualties so far, with hundreds of villages still not accessible to authorities. The unprecedented rainfall has now flooded over two million acres of farmland as well, killing more than 700,000 farm animals.
For a country that typically sees three or four rainy periods per year, the eight cycles of monsoon rains that Pakistan has experienced this year is an anomaly. Melting glaciers and glacial lake outbursts, driven by extreme heat and the effects of La Niña, also account for significant flooding and mudslides in multiple districts.
In response, IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) has rushed an emergency grant to our local partner, Education, Awareness and Community Health (EACH). The grant supports the purchase and distribution of food for 1,000 cattle and other farm animals belonging to more than 200 families in Chiniot District in the province of Punjab. Today, EACH responders will access several villages previously deemed unsafe by authorities and can begin to assess unmet animal needs.
Here are some other ways IFAW is responding to the urgent need in Pakistan:
- Local IFAW partners are reaching out to wildlife protection authorities to assess unmet needs for wild animals.
- IFAW is facilitating humanitarian requests for displaced families through its international partners.
- IFAW is actively providing disaster response and recovery expertise for temporary sheltering of pets, and guidance on how local shelter staff can safely return to their facilities.
This work is fueled by IFAW supporters. Please make a gift today to support these emergency efforts and protect animals around the world.
Keep checking back for more updates.
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