Over 1 million animals vaccinated in Sudan

More than 1 million animals in Sudan's restive regions of Darfur and South Kordofan have been immunized against five major diseases affecting animals in the African country, the International Committee of the Red Cross ( ICRC) announced Thursday in a statement. In a campaign carried out jointly by the ICRC and the Sudanese Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries (MARF) from January to October, one million animals in Darfur and almost a hundred thousand in South Kordofan were immunized against five major diseases affecting animals in Sudan, the statement said. "Animal health has been a major concern for nomads in Darfur and South Kordofan," said Christophe Driesse, who coordinates the ICRC's economic security activities in Sudan. "Armed clashes are making it difficult for them to obtain veterinary services and to reach the grazing areas where they used to take their animals. The vaccination of animals is an essential means of supporting their livelihood," Driesse said. Among the five major diseases that could affect animals is anthrax, a bacterial infection that is in most forms mortal and can also spread to humans. The animals vaccinated are cows, goats, sheep, camels, horses and donkeys. Since 2005, more than 270 community animal health workers have been trained thanks to the partnership between the ICRC and MARF in Darfur. They have also been provided with drugs and other items needed for the treatment of sick animals. The ICRC has been assisting the victims of the armed conflict in Darfur since 2003. It has been involved in the vaccination of animals in partnership with MARF in Darfur since 2005 and in South Kordofan since 2010.