23.09.2011 ►Orissa Flood Relief for Animals ►Reports

APOWA - Action for Protection of Wild Animals

Daily Flood Reporta: 17th - 23rd September, 2011

It is 15th day since our disaster rescue team has been working restlessly to provide relief to the surviving animals. The team, which includes veterinarians, volunteers has been making daily move to the flood affected areas to provide emergency feeding, treatment of animals and repairing of animal shelters. Today, our team covered the areas of Bhgabanpur,Ostia and Keutasahi villages in Rajnagar block. Our team has been distributed 12 bags of cattle feeds and emergency feeding to 146 animals and treated 127 animals in these villages. While treatment is going on, our vet doctors observe mainly indigestion, diarrhoea, anorexia due to food intake, cold and cough non specific fever, allergy and foot rot, mineral deficiency etc among animals in the flood affected areas.  It was another long day for the disaster rescue team, but we were happy knowing that the villagers now have several days’ worth of animal feeds and medicine with vitamin supplement, so they can care for their animals and concentrate on getting through the next week with one less worry on their minds. The rivers Brahmani, Baitarani and their tributaries are yet again flowing above the danger mark with low pressure induced heavy rain lashing the Pattamundai, Rajnagar, Rajkanika and Aul blocks in Kendrpara district and Bari, Korei, Jajpur, Dasarathpur, Rasulpur and Dharmasala blocks of Jajpur district in coastal Orissa.

APOWA Team 

Today, our disaster rescue team has reached at Sidhaballi, Taraipatana and Khandaisahi villages under Amrutamanohi Gram Panchayat of Pattamundai block. The villagers were assisting to the team in relief activities. The team has also educated the villagers on how to take better care of their animals during and after flood. The villagers were very happy to receive 20 bags of cattle feeds for 476 animals & medical care to 157 animals. They told us this is the first aid to our village reached after 12 days of flood devastation. Today, our team has also faced some obstacle in relief works due to heavy rain and wind. Here scarcity of boat is another problem.

Today our disaster rescue team has divided into three. Each group comprises of vet technician and volunteers. Our two groups covered the three wards of Nilakanthapur village under Nilakathapur gram panchayt and four wards in Krushnadaspur village under Singhagaon panchayt of Pattamundai block. Another group was visited to the hardest-hit and interior areas of Balisahipatana and Rajpur villages under Rajnagar block. We have been conducted emergency feeding to 166 animals; provide feeds to animals that are stranded. Today, our team also provided medicines and vitamins to flood affected 81 animals. Heavy rain has makes hindrance in our relief works today. As thousands of animal shelters has completely collapsed, the current heavy rain with wind speed due to low pressure turned the situation critical. So, the requirements of temporary shelters are essential for flood victims.

Today, our disaster rescue team reached at flood breach front villages of Narasinghpur and Podana of Marsaghai block. These two villages were suffered a 200 meter breach due to excessive flow of water in the river Chitropalla near Narasinghpur. So, you can imagine what was happened with these peoples and animals of these villages. We have noticed many buildings have been collapsed. Here around 90% of animal shelters (normally made with thatched houses) have been completely collapsed.

Our team fed 205 no’s of animals, distributed 12 bags of feeds among villagers and treated 123 no’s animals there. Here growing demand is animal feeds and repair of animal shelter.

Our thoughts and well wishes go out to those who have lost their belongings and animals in this dreadful flood.  In this precarious situation we would appeal to all to extend your supportive hand to mitigate the plight of animals in the affected areas.

The APOWA disaster rescue team is continuing to bring shelter, food and treatment to many  affected animals by flood in Orissa. Our team, which includes veterinarians, volunteers has been working tirelessly in the flood-affected areas, supporting relief efforts and treatment, emergency feeding and repairing of shelters etc. Because of our past disaster management experience, we now have in place the dedication and commitment to hard work and understanding of what is needed to deal with the situation. Combined with our genuine love for the animals, our rescue teams can be in place until the situations improve. Today we have been conducted relief works at worst affected villages of Raghabpur and Mandia village under Raghabpur Gram Panchayt of Marsaghai block. Today we are able at reach breach faced animals for emergency feeding 182 animals and treat 114 animals.

Today, we remain at Balipatana village and continued our animal rescue and relief efforts there. The disaster rescue team moved from house to house provides relief and treatment to animals and then got all the people together for a quick lesson on the importance of hygiene, and disease outbreaks. They were also given herbal tonics, vitamin supplement with feeds for rejuvenation. The team immediately got to work mixing vitamins and nutritional supplements with the straw. Our team treated 91 animals and feed 132 animals there. The team is being helped by community volunteers from local Youth clubs. This is truly an amazing community of animal lovers!

It was another long working day for APOWA’S disaster rescue team. As gradually flood water receding, the communication became easy to some parts of the affected areas. But still many parts of the district remained cutoff due to number of breaches and water arrest.  Today our team was reached at Balipatana village of Pattamundai block which was marooned for more than a week. When we arrived there, the scene was worst than we expect. There was still water inundate in many low lying areas, debris and mud covered the ground.

Some evacuees have returned to their villages passing through the floodwaters. Due to breaches many pasture land became sand covered. In considering the present situation the Govt of Orissa has extended 7 days more relief to flood victims.

Today our team treated 147 large animals and 86 small animals there. The dedicated volunteers of APOWA are an amazing group. In the very first day of the flood devastation they were responding quickly and are still working with disaster rescue team. We will be thankful by the thoughts of the animals we were able to save today, and we’re looking forward to those yet to come. We warmly welcome your contribution for our flood relief works!

Sincerely,

APOWA Team