1000 working equines receive food rations in Pakistan amid Coronavirus pandemic

Last month, Brooke Pakistan provided food rations to 1000 working horses, donkeys and mules across Peshawar, Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan and Karachi, as communities continue to feel the harsh economic impact of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Brooke also ensured that 100 animal health providers received fresh medicine stocks and first aid kits where needed. Upon receiving the food rations, people within the communities were mentored on how to prepare the food for their animals and given information on the importance of hand hygiene and social distancing.

Pakistan has been hard hit by the pandemic, with close to 222,000 confirmed infections at the time of writing. A strict lockdown was in place during the spring which left many unable to work and provide for their families and animals. Since the lockdown was lifted on 9 May, however, the country has seen a surge in cases, raising fears that the health system will become overwhelmed.

Since the start of the pandemic Brooke has worked to ensure that rural communities receive guidance and support on how to stop the spread of the virus. In April, Brooke teamed up with the Aman Foundation to provide equine owning communities with 450 bottles (100ml) of hand sanitiser, and prior to this, women from Brooke’s equine welfare groups in Faisalabad put their stitching skills to good use by creating 500 face masks to help protect their communities.

There are currently almost 6 million working horses, donkeys and mules across Pakistan involved in a variety of work from transporting people and goods, to working in brick kilns and coal mines. These animals are essential to the survival of communities and now more than ever, it’s vital that they receive support to continue supporting families through this crisis.