BOSTON -- A disaster relief team from the World Society
for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is working in Kosovo to provide
life saving veterinary care and to deliver tons of supplies to care for
the war's silent victims.
The team estimates that at least 50% of the region's
domestic animals have died in the recent conflict, with up to 80% having
being killed in some districts. Huge numbers of animals left by fleeing
refugees have died of starvation, whilst others have been injured or
killed by gunfire or landmines. (WSPA) estimates that there were
approximately 150,000 dogs, 200,000 cattle and 500,000 sheep and goats
in Kosovo before the conflict began.)
The WSPA team is dealing with the animal casualties of
the conflict, providing emergency treatment to sick and injured animals
and linking up with veterinarians in the region to start distributing
emergency supplies of veterinary medicines and equipment. With
veterinary clinics having run out of medicines months ago, the team is
currently organizing a large consignment of emergency supplies which
they plan to supply to Kosovo's major veterinary centers which are based
in the eight largest towns in the region.
Gerardo Huertas, WSPA Regional Director for Latin
America, who is leading the relief team, said "There is an urgent need
for veterinary medicines in Kosovo to help treat the thousands of
animals that are injured or suffering from disease. During the past year
of instability in the region, many veterinary clinics have run out of
medicines and have been unable to buy more. WSPA's emergency consignment
will help rebuild the region veterinary infrastructure, allowing vets to
get back into action and treat urgent cases over the next two months."
Many of Kosovo's surviving animals are suffering from
disease or injuries and the WSPA team has seen cattle suffering from
mastitis (a painful infection caused by being left unmilked) wandering
aimlessly along roads and in open fields. In addition, there are
hundreds of diseased or injured stray dogs roaming the streets of
Pristina and Prisren, having problems ranging from eye infections,
mange, open sores to broken bones and malnutrition. Many stray dogs have
taken refuge in unoccupied buildings and compounds which may have mines,
booby-traps and unexploded shells.
The WSPA team is are working alongside colleagues from
the Veterinary Ambulance Service in Skopje, Macedonia, and Kosovar veterinarians. The
visit has been organized with the help of WSPA's member society the
Macedonian Society for Animal Protection (SRNA). Andrew Dickson, WSPA
Chief Executive, said "The current crisis in Kosovo has become a
terrible tragedy for the people of the region and their animals. In
situations like this, WSPA has a track record in working alongside
humanitarian agencies to address the problems facing the livestock and
pet animal populations."
One of the world's largest animal protection charities,
WSPA has consultative status at the United Nations and the Council of
Europe and has a long tradition of providing emergency aid to animals
affected by man-made or natural disasters.
Previous examples of WSPA's disaster relief work include
helping animals in the aftermath of the Gulf War and the conflicts in
Bosnia and Afghanistan.
For more information, contact:
Andrew Dickson, CEO
WSPA Disaster Fund
PO Box 190
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
1-800-883-WSPA
Laura Salter, Regional Manager USA, (617) 522-7000
Broadcast quality footage and still images available or
Live interviews with WSPA team members in Kosovo
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