The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) last week carried out a livestock de-worming campaign for 100,000 cattle belonging to pastoralist communities affected by violence in Nasarawa State.
ICRC Public Relations Officer Aliyu Dawobe in a statement said so far, 80,000 displaced people in Benue State have also received food assistance, adding that earlier in November, 25 veterinarians and community animal health workers from 20 states received training in Abuja on livestock emergency guidelines to treat animal diseases in conflict-affected areas.
“We provided this assistance to alleviate the suffering of people in these areas. The humanitarian situation here is difficult, and the ICRC helps the most vulnerable communities,” said Majid Bakhtiary, the Head of the ICRC sub-delegation in Jos.
“The six weeks de-worming campaign started on November 12 in Awe, Keana and Nasarawa local government areas of Nasarawa State. It aims to improve health condition of about 100,000 cattle and 40,000 sheep and goats.
Simultaneously, the ICRC has concluded food distribution to some 80,000 people in displacement camps in Guma and Makurdi local government areas.
The food distribution took place in collaboration with the Nigeria Red Cross Society (NRCS),” ICRC stated.
Additionally, the ICRC in partnership with the Department of Livestock and Veterinary Services in Plateau State trained 1,600 people, among them NRCS volunteers, community animal health workers and community leaders.
The training covered basic animal disease and treatment, enabling participants to assist livestock herders in remote areas where veterinary services are not available.
