ISLAMABAD: The military operation in North Waziristan has not only rendered half a million people displaced but also forced thousands of working animals to leave their abodes.
According to official sources in the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (Safron) and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, these include donkeys, horses, sheep and goats.
Know more: Displaced people, animals suffer alike
The provincial disaster authority was aware of the issue of these displaced animals and had established veterinary care centres in the areas where the IDPs camps had been established.
According to the PDMA data, 20,309 animals have been treated in 15 mobile veterinary clinics set up in Bannu, Lakki Marwat, D. I. Khan, Karak and Tank.
Giving the breakdown, the PDMA said that 9,636 animals were treated in Bannu, 4,276 in Lakki Marwat, 4,160 in D.I Khan, 1,372 in Karak and 865 in Tank.
When asked about deaths of animals, official sources said 6,052 animals had died – 5,900 in Bannu, two in D.I. Khan and 150 in Karak.
Displaced families and their animals had to cover long distances to reach the peace zone and during the journey most animals had exhausted and could not survive.
Keeping in view the sensitivity of the situation, the authorities concerned had made arrangements for their vaccination which saved thousands of lives as homelessness not only affected humans but also the animals.
However, many tribesmen left their other animals behind after they were asked to vacate their areas. Among such animals were cows, which are unable to cover long distances.
Donkeys turned out to be real assets in safely bringing their owners’ belongings to Bannu.
The government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has released Rs104 million to arrange fodder for the animals of IDPs from North Waziristan.
Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2014