We're on the ground helping animals after floods in India and Nepal

Thousands and thousands of animals including cows, buffaloes, goats, pigs, chickens, dogs and cats are fighting for their lives in the northeastern state of Assam in India, and in Nepal, after devastating floods have ravaged the region.

We're on the ground organizing and leading mobile veterinary response teams and distributing emergency veterinary kits for both livestock and pets.

We're providing lifesaving care for thousands of animals whose owners rely on them to keep their families out of extreme poverty.

You can support our work to protect animals in need by making a contribution to our disaster management fund. Click here.

Many of the animals that we are treating are deeply traumatized and are in shock. A large number have broken limbs and are in extreme pain.

So far, local efforts have focused on the humanitarian crisis. We're now in the disaster zone focusing on providing food and medical treatment for the animals, in addition to preventing disease.

“Animals are in dire need, injured, starving and at high risk of disease. The floods have damaged pastures for months to come, compounding the emergency with starvation,” said Hansen Thambi Prem, our Disaster Project Manager.

“By helping animals, we not only alleviate their suffering, but also help the people who rely so heavily on them for their livelihoods, transport and food. Governments and NGOs must recognize that when a disaster hits, people and animals' very survival, and eventual recovery, is intertwined. That is why we are on the ground to protect animals.”

Our teams in India and Nepal will:

• Provide immediate assistance to animals on the ground injured from the floods and meeting basic needs for survival.
• Provide emergency veterinary kit items which will include dressings and treatment for wounded animals, treatment of diarrhea, pneumonia and other potential post-flood diseases.
• Assess the wider and longer-term needs for the animals in partnership with the government.

While disaster response rightly prioritizes people’s immediate needs, the long-term recovery from disasters is inextricably linked with the well-being of animals.

Communities and people affected by the floods in both Assam in India and Nepal heavily rely on agriculture to make ends meet, and in this critical stage, the recovery from the floods by saving animals will provide stability for their future.

Top photo: An Indian woman holds a goat while sitting on a raft at the flood affected Koliabor village, some 186km from Guwahati the capital city of India’s northeastern state of Assam on August 13th, 2017. AFP/Biju Boro.