Livestock under threat in Upper Swat
An estimated 1.2 million livestock animals and six million poultry birds were killed in the flood.
SWAT:
The livestock population in the flood-hit areas of Upper Swat is increasingly under threat, as water-borne diseases continue to rage in the area. An estimated 1.2 million livestock animals and six million poultry birds were killed in the flood and thousands more were left at risk of starvation and disease.
Biha, an area of Matta, Swat where every household must keep animals, is facing the grim problem of animal diseases in the flood aftermath but neither the government nor non-governmental organisations seem to have done enough to counter the threat.
Khaista, a flood survivor, told The Express Tribune that he had more than 20 different animals. “My livelihood was solely dependent upon those animals but after the flood they were plagued by strange diseases which killed them one by one.”
Regarding the cause of the diseases, he said with uncertainty, “I think these are water-borne diseases, because the animals got ill right after the flood, but I can’t be sure.”
“We are facing a difficult time because we don’t have any livestock experts out here. If the government could help solve this problem for us, we would be grateful to them.”
Saba Khan, another animal owner, said, “I lost nine of my animals when the flood hit our area because they were grazing in the nearby mountain when the lightning struck the area and killed them all while the rest of my animals are suffering from some strange diseases and are dying one by one.”
“We hope someone comes forward to save our animals as they are a source of our livelihood,” he said dejectedly.
Mohammad Adil, a veterinary on being approached told The Express Tribune, “The livestock in those areas are suffering from water-borne diseases as they are drinking water from stagnant ponds and lack of proper sanitation is causing infections.”
“Animals need immediate vaccination for diseases, including the foot-and-mouth disease to protect them from further illnesses.” “If proper treatment and vaccination is not provided in time, the remaining animals will also die one by one.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 4th, 2010.
The livestock population in the flood-hit areas of Upper Swat is increasingly under threat, as water-borne diseases continue to rage in the area. An estimated 1.2 million livestock animals and six million poultry birds were killed in the flood and thousands more were left at risk of starvation and disease.
Biha, an area of Matta, Swat where every household must keep animals, is facing the grim problem of animal diseases in the flood aftermath but neither the government nor non-governmental organisations seem to have done enough to counter the threat.
Khaista, a flood survivor, told The Express Tribune that he had more than 20 different animals. “My livelihood was solely dependent upon those animals but after the flood they were plagued by strange diseases which killed them one by one.”
Regarding the cause of the diseases, he said with uncertainty, “I think these are water-borne diseases, because the animals got ill right after the flood, but I can’t be sure.”
“We are facing a difficult time because we don’t have any livestock experts out here. If the government could help solve this problem for us, we would be grateful to them.”
Saba Khan, another animal owner, said, “I lost nine of my animals when the flood hit our area because they were grazing in the nearby mountain when the lightning struck the area and killed them all while the rest of my animals are suffering from some strange diseases and are dying one by one.”
“We hope someone comes forward to save our animals as they are a source of our livelihood,” he said dejectedly.
Mohammad Adil, a veterinary on being approached told The Express Tribune, “The livestock in those areas are suffering from water-borne diseases as they are drinking water from stagnant ponds and lack of proper sanitation is causing infections.”
“Animals need immediate vaccination for diseases, including the foot-and-mouth disease to protect them from further illnesses.” “If proper treatment and vaccination is not provided in time, the remaining animals will also die one by one.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 4th, 2010.