The Brooke - Launch of unique British venture to help women and animals in earthquake hit Pakistan

The Brooke, the UK’s largest overseas equine welfare charity, and Mercy Corps, an international humanitarian organisation, have collaborated in a unique venture to help thousands of women and their working animals in North West Pakistan, the region that was devastated by an enormous earthquake one year ago.

These leading international organisations have spearheaded a joint programme initiated to teach women vital techniques to keep their working animals healthy. Never before have woman been the focus of such a large-scale integrated programme aimed to protect livelihoods and the welfare of animals.

In addition to the great human loss when the earthquake struck on the 8th October 2005, thousands of animals were either killed or injured leaving countless poor rural communities, most of whom were entirely dependent on their livestock for their livelihood and food, destitute and hungry.

As the people in the region struggle to rebuild the lives against tremendous odds such as torrential weather conditions, landslides and economic instability, Brooke and Mercy Corps have identified women as holding the key to the region’s long-term development.

Launch of unique British venture to help women and animals in earthquake hit Pakistan © Warrick Page

Brooke vets and Mercy Corps community workers are currently working across 30 villages in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), bordering Afghanistan, teaching 1,500 local women long-lasting skills in animal care, such as disease prevention, hygiene, nutrition, hydration, stabling.

The sessions also included the use of art to encourage the women to express how they feel about their animals. The results have been impressive. Even though these women have been through a horrendous ordeal in the past year, their drawings are of positive images of happy animals and peaceful surroundings. There were no broken buildings or sick animals in any of the pictures.

And with consent secured from the local religious leaders and village elders, the women, majority of whom are clad in veil, have been readily accepting the charities’ help. Following the success of the project in the regions of Dadar and Mansehra in NWFP, this month the sessions are to be expanded into Bagh and Muzzafferabad districts in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

“For the majority of families in the region, their most valuable possession is their animals. Without proper care, animals can die leaving the families with no source of food, milk, transportation or income,” says Julia Macro, Brooke’s Programme Development Manager and a specialist in livelihoods and emergency relief. “The women know how important this training is and they are so excited - this is the first time they’ve been given an opportunity like this.”

“This region of Pakistan is very conservative so we are very privileged to be allowed access to the women,” adds Jules Lang, Economic Development Director for Mercy Corps. “And the results have been amazing – after everything they’ve been through it gives the women hope for the future.”

To view more pictures of the programme click here

Editors Notes:

Brooke background:
In the aftermath of the earthquake, the Brooke’s mobile veterinary teams tended to over 34,000 animals in the region, and since its vets were some of the first medical practioners on the scene, it treated over 3,000 human injuries in the immediate aftermath of the quake. It also organised a 40-strong donkey train to take 50,000 kg supplies high up into the mountains, and built hundreds of winterised shelters for animals (at the owners' request) and distributed fodder & vaccinated animals widely.

Mercy Corps background:
Mercy Corps works amid disasters, conflicts, chronic poverty and instability to unleash the potential of people who can win against impossible odds. Since 1979, Mercy Corps has provided over £500 million in assistance to people in 82 nations. Supported by headquarters offices in Europe, North America and Asia, the agency's unified global programmes employ 3,200 staff worldwide and reach nearly 10 million people in more than 40 countries. Over the last five years, more than 90% of the agency's resources have been allocated directly to programmes that help people in need.

Mercy Corps’ assistance to Pakistan dates back to the mid-1980’s. The agency now operates programmes in Bauchistan Province reaching 320,000 people, in addition to continuing assistance to survivors of the 2005 Pakistan Earthquake.