Nyala, August 28 (Darfur24)
The Minister of Livestock and Fisheries in the Government of Peace, Hafiz Ibrahim Abdel Nabi, has inaugurated 13 cold storage units for preserving veterinary vaccines, with support from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The units will be distributed across six states as part of efforts to strengthen veterinary services and protect livestock from disease.
The livestock sector in Darfur has faced a severe shortage of veterinary services and vaccines since the outbreak of the war in April 2023, following the disruption of laboratories and supply chains and the suspension of vaccination campaigns in several states.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Nyala, Abdel Nabi said the project was implemented with FAO support and in cooperation with partners working in the livestock sector.
He said the ministry also planned to resume operations at the regional laboratory in Nyala to support vaccine production and improve livestock health services.
Ibrahim Abdullah, director-general of the Ministry of Animal Resources in South Darfur, praised the support provided by the European Union and FAO to protect Sudan’s livestock sector.
His counterpart in East Darfur, Saeed Abkar Saeed, welcomed the support from the federal ministry and FAO and called on partners to provide additional vaccines to protect livestock.
Shortages of vaccines and veterinary medicines have contributed to outbreaks of livestock diseases and animal deaths in several areas. Authorities in East Darfur have reported that a shortage of veterinary medicines, combined with disease outbreaks following heavy rains, has resulted in the deaths of large numbers of animals.
In July, the East Darfur Ministry of Livestock warned of epidemic diseases threatening tens of thousands of animals, saying the lack of essential vaccines since the start of the war posed a direct threat to livestock herds.
According to FAO data, Darfur accounts for about 31.8% of Sudan’s estimated livestock population of 115.4 million animals, or approximately 36.7 million head.
Livestock provides food, income and savings for millions of pastoral and agro-pastoral families in Darfur. The spread of animal diseases threatens livelihoods, reduces meat and dairy production, and disrupts livestock movement and cross-border trade.