ICRC holds conference on animal health care in Darfur

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) opened a conference today in Nyala, South Darfur to discuss the problems and solutions of animal health care. Taking place today and tomorrow, the conference involves 90 participants, including 50 community animal health workers from South Darfur as well as representatives of the Sudanese authorities and of local and international non-governmental organizations.  “This is the first time that so many people have gathered to consider how to respond to challenges faced by animal health workers, such as obtaining drugs in remote areas and dealing with emerging new diseases,” said Ursula Kayali, an ICRC livestock expert. “We also want to discuss how animal health workers can better support milk production to boost sales within their communities.” In addition to receiving health care for their animals, nomads in Darfur also benefit from the ICRC’s repairs of public water points along livestock migration routes. This year, in cooperation with local communities and water authorities, the ICRC upgraded 30 water points in Darfur serving over 213,000 people and their livestock.