American charity IFAW rescues flood displaced farm animals in Malawi

As one way of saving lives of farm animals that are still in trouble after surviving the devastating floods that has rocked many parts of Malawi, American-based International Fund for Animal Welfare has sent a team of experts in the veterinary field are in the country to assist.

IFAW Southern Africa Communications Manager Christina Pretorius said  that Nsanje where more than one-million farm animals are affected, has been the first district to be targeted with the relief campaign.

“Ensuring that the remaining animals stay healthy and strong is absolutely crucial to ensuring people can rebuild their lives once the flood waters recede,” said Shannon Walajtys, Animal Rescue-Disasters Manager for IFAW.

She added that the animal welfare group   is to provide emergency veterinary care as well as providing feed for animals suffering from lack of food availability.

“A rabies vaccination campaign will be conducted for dogs at evacuation centres and thousands of animals, including cattle, goats, chickens and pigs which managed to escape the rain are now marooned on ‘islands’ of higher ground surrounded by flood waters,” added the IFAW Animal Rescue-Disasters Manager.

Up to 300,000 people have been displaced by the flooding which and most of these people are subsistence farmers who have lost everything including farm animals.

While thousands of animals, including cattle, goats, chickens and pigs which managed to escape the rain are now marooned on ‘islands’ of higher ground surrounded by flood waters.

IFAW is one of the world’s more prominent animal welfare groups, and has been backed by global celebrities.

The group has been active in Malawi at Liwonde National Park since 2011, through its Liwonde National Park Conservation Programme, in which it partners with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife.

Among many activities, in 2013 IFAW helped build the Chikolongo Community Fish Farm which provides a livelihood opportunity for local people and secure access to safe drinking water.

Malawi has been hit by floods that has seen hundreds dead and others missing with thousands displaced and property lost, a development that has seen both the local and international community assisting with various relief items to the surviving families.

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