The programme will help working donkeys at risk of dehydration, starvation and disease in drought-hit northern Kenya.

The arid and semi-arid Mandera County, on the border between Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia, has been without rainfall for six months and a further three months of drought is predicted, leading the government to declare a state of emergency.

“Water sources have dried up, pastures are rapidly diminishing and donkeys and livestock are dying,” says Tania Dennison, the Brooke’s Africa Programme Advisor.

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“Donkeys are a casualty of the drought, as they trek longer distances without food, water or rest. They transport water for their owners and other livestock but often miss out on water themselves.”

Read Tania’s blog on how the drought is affecting the people and their working donkeys in the region.

The Brooke’s partner, Practical Action, is working in one of the worst affected regions in north east Kenya.

“Donkeys are the main working animals in the region and for the first time in the history of the region these typically hardy animals are dying”, said Abdul Haro, Practical Action’s Area Coordinator.

The two month programme will provide supplementary food, high-quality veterinary treatments and vitamins to at least 5,000 donkeys.

In addition, the response will also cover a fuel subsidy distributed to five water users associations – local groups that operate mechanized wells – ensuring donkeys have greater access to water.

Community based animal healthcare workers will run training workshops to highlight the early warning signs of the effects of drought on donkeys, appropriate responses and emergency veterinary services in ten of the worst affected areas.

Additionally, increased access to veterinary health services to cross border equines will meet the needs of 2,000 new donkeys expected to arrive across the Somali and Ethiopian borders with their displaced owners.

The Brooke recognises that women are often the main carers of working donkeys in communities. Five womens’ groups will be trained on donkey husbandry and methods for coping with drought.

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