Reestablishment of the Livestock Vaccination Programme in Selected Locations of Dar’a Governorate

The availability of necessary inputs and support for livestock vaccination in Dar’a Governorate has become increasing difficult since the start of the conflict.  Consequently, vaccination services were halted leading to a substantial increase in the demise incidence among agricultural animals. Almost all such deaths were due to the spread of diseases, lack of preventive vaccination and emergence of new diseases of various pathological strains. The Food Security sector for the population has been affected by the decreased availability of milk and meat. Additionally, the lack of timely vaccination against common livestock diseases has increased the likelihood that diseases mutate and affect humans on a large scale.

To tackle such deterioration, the project provides the responsible local authority, the Agricultural Directorate of Dar’a Governorate, with the necessary support needed to carry out massive vaccination of farm animals. As an implementing entity (IE) of the project, the Directorate will also endeavor to prevent the spread of animal-to-human diseases by providing the local herders and farming community with effective veterinary services. This will be achieved through the following activities and deliverables:

• Purchasing and delivering selected vaccines and associated consumables to launch extensive livestock vaccination campaigns across the governorate.

• Procuring vehicles for transportation of vaccines and related vaccination tools and materials from border crossings to storage sites in the premises of sub-directorates.

• Importing nine motorcycles for the IE’s veterinary staff to use in efficient and timely delivery of vaccines and reactivated vaccination and veterinary services.

Worth approximately EUR 318 thousand, the project will enable the IE to deliver efficient vaccination services to herders and livestock farmers. Its veterinarians and their assistants engaged in the vaccination campaigns and delivery of the veterinarian services will also take follow-up actions such as, monitoring the impact of vaccines on animal health.

As a result, the project will decrease the number of deaths among livestock herds, increase the numbers of agricultural animals and improve the production, availability and affordability of meat, milk and dairy products for the local population. It will also enhance the capacity and expertise of the IE and its sub-directorates and create employment opportunities for veterinarians, veterinary assistants, and other workers associated with livestock and animal husbandry. It will also provide additional work opportunities in areas such as livestock transportation, animal slaughtering, meat and milk processing and sales, development of dairy by-product, associated civil works, etc.

Over 280,000 people will directly benefit from this project. This includes 12,440 dairy producers and their families and 27,650 sheep and goat farming families.

Being implemented over a period of 15 months from the date of signing of the financing agreement, the project will indirectly benefit the entire population of the governorate. In particular, it will protect the inhabitants of catchment areas, from potential outbreaks of mutated viruses while offering them the opportunity to take advantage of the availability of meat, milk and diary products at affordable and convenient prices. Overall it is expected to contribute significantly to an improved level of food security in the governorate.

For further information on this intervention, please see:

The SRTF Delivers Motorcycles for Livestock Vaccination Activities in Dar’a Governorate