Saving animals in natural disasters will help save people’s lives

Around 1.3 billion of the world’s poorest people rely on their animals for food, transport and their livelihoods.When disasters strike, the impact is devastating for animals and the communities that depend on them.

On International Disaster Risk Reduction Day, World Animal Protection is calling on more governments around the world to include animals in their national disaster response plans. Around 1.3 billion of the world’s poorest people rely on their animals for food, transport and their livelihoods. 

This summer the unpredictability and power of the floods in South Asia, earthquakes in Mexico and hurricanes pummeling the Caribbean, Florida and Texas took a vicious toll on people and animals.  Communities who rely on their animals each and every day to make a living have been left devastated.

After a series of deployments providing emergency vet treatments to animals across the world, the charity is now calling on more governments to include animals in their national disaster plans so that instead of trying to pick up the pieces after the event, animals and the communities that depend on them, can be protected before the hurricane, earthquake, flood or drought hits.

When Hurricane Irma hit Antigua and Barbuda – the mass evacuation of people left cats, dogs and herds of livestock bereft of their owners. An estimated 5000 animals perished. Those who survived were confused, hungry, scared and injured – this could have been avoided with better disaster prevention.

Gerardo Huertas, Global Director of Disaster Management at World Animal Protection says:

“When major disasters strike, the survival of people and the recovery of whole communities are inextricably linked to the survival of animals. We must reduce the risks of losing pets and livestock by strengthening community’s capabilities to cope with recurring disasters.

“A disaster can destroy a family’s annual income, whilst also having the power to devastate a whole nation; making resilience building a vital step. By helping animals, we are sustainably safeguarding livelihoods, food security and resilience to disasters.”

For over 50 years, World Animal Protection has worked with governments, humanitarian organizations and grassroots communities to reduce vulnerability to disasters. Saving people’s lives is a priority during a disaster, but protecting their livelihoods must come a close second.



Disasters cost billions annually and protecting livestock is a way for governments to save lives, livelihoods and the time it takes for communities to rebuild themselves.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

·         For more information, photos and videos or to arrange an interview please contact Jonaid Jilani on T. +44 (0) 20 7239 0673 E. jonaidjilani@worldanimalprotection.org

·         To reduce the risks of disaster, World Animal Protection works with governments to create solutions to protect animals. For example, the Philippines face an average 20 typhoons every year – so it’s critical to have risk reduction plans in place for both animals and people. Since the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, the organisation built typhoon-resistant shelters for farm animals. Not only do these shelters decrease animal suffering and death in the wake of a disaster, they increase a communities’ ability to cope and secure their livelihoods.

·         We are working with governments such as Mexico, Costa Rica and India to ensure animals are incorporated into national and local disaster management plans. We are here to support governments in safeguarding its animals and the communities that depend on them from future disasters.

·         World Animal Protection lobbied to ensure animals are included in the Post-2015 Disaster Risk Reduction Framework because, protecting animals from disasters is an important step in securing the livelihoods of the world’s poorest communities and rebuild their lives after a disaster.

·         World Animal Protection has been working actively with governments, communities and individuals in disaster management since 1964. Out of 250 disaster responses across 50 years, we have provided aid to over 7 million animals.

Gerardo Huertas, Global Director of Disaster Management at World Animal Protection says: “When major disasters strike, the survival of people and the recovery of whole communities are inextricably linked to the survival of animals. We must reduce the risks of losing pets and livestock by strengthening community’s capabilities to cope with recurring disasters. “A disaster can destroy a family’s annual income, whilst also having the power to devastate a whole nation; making resilience buildi