Um Dafuq, September 11 (Darfur24)
Veterinary services in Um Dafuq, South Darfur State, have almost completely collapsed since the outbreak of war in 2023, contributing to the spread of livestock diseases and threatening the region’s animal wealth, according to local veterinary sources.
The sources estimate that between 40 and 50 cattle die each week in Um Dafuq, with livestock deaths increasing since the onset of the rainy season.
Livestock vaccination campaigns across Darfur have also been severely disrupted since the war began, while laboratories and vaccine supply chains have been affected and campaigns suspended for extended periods in several states.
Livestock owner Hussein Tijani attributed the deterioration of veterinary services in Um Dafuq to the absence of specialised veterinarians and the suspension of annual vaccination campaigns since the start of the war.
He said several diseases, including some he described as new and highly fatal, have emerged among livestock, with affected animals sometimes dying within hours. He also cited diseases known locally as “Al-Warma,” “Abu Wal” and “Abu Aqil.”
Tijani said some herders have resorted to traditional treatments because of the lack of veterinary alternatives. He added that livestock crossing the border with the Central African Republic could further contribute to the spread of diseases.
Veterinarian Mohamed Adam Saleh described Um Dafuq as a major entry point for livestock diseases into Darfur. He warned that the suspension of annual vaccination campaigns had left livestock vulnerable to diseases that are increasingly difficult to control amid the continuing conflict.
A livestock trader who requested anonymity told Darfur24 that most traders had refrained from purchasing animals at the Um Dafuq market this season because of concerns over disease outbreaks, particularly following the suspension of vaccination campaigns.
Meanwhile, Sudan’s Minister of Livestock and Fisheries, Hafiz Ibrahim Abdel Nabi, announced an emergency plan to support herders and livestock producers and address challenges facing the sector because of the war.
The minister announced during a meeting with tribal leaders and community elders in Nyala, South Darfur, on Thursday. He described livestock producers as the “weakest link” in the sector and said the ministry planned to establish a dedicated fund to help herders and producers access essential services.
The plan also includes opening alternative markets for Sudanese livestock exports and rehabilitating laboratories and slaughterhouses, with priority given to restarting the Nyala Regional Laboratory because of its role in disease diagnosis and vaccine production.
Tribal leaders and community elders welcomed the ministry’s efforts to restart the laboratory and called for regulated grazing and protection of grazing lands amid declining rainfall and climate change.
They also called for security and administrative measures to protect agricultural and livestock seasons and reduce friction and conflict between farmers and herders.
The developments come amid growing calls from herders across Darfur for the resumption of livestock vaccination campaigns and veterinary services. Sources said the Rapid Support Forces had carried out limited vaccination campaigns in some parts of the region, but these efforts did not cover Darfur’s large livestock population.
The situation in Um Dafuq reflects the broader impact of the war on Darfur’s livestock sector, which supports a large share of the region’s population. The disruption of preventive and treatment services, cross-border livestock movements, and the continued risk of disease outbreaks have heightened concerns over the sector’s future.