Emergency Livelihoods in South Sudan - Veterinarians Without Borders 2013

March 2013 - Ongoing inter-ethnic militia and cross-border conflicts in South Sudan continue to create significant displacement resulting in increased pressure on water and sanitation infrastructure as well as the health infrastructure throughout the country. With Canada's support Veterinarians Without Borders Canada is providing increased protection of livestock assets of refugees and host communities in Maban County South Sudan through targeted animal health interventions and reduce exposure to animal-borne diseases amongst 216 300 targeted beneficiaries. Project activities focus on: mass vaccinations in four refugee camps including the targeting 150 000 head of livestock; training animal health workers on disease surveillance for the entire livestock population; poultry restocking for vulnerable female-headed households; training on the effective response to animal disease prevention and control; and training on conflict prevention for hosts and refugees including contingency planning for drought floods and additional displacement.

Specific outputs include: protection of livestock assets through targeted animal health interventions and reduction of exposure to animal-borne diseases amongst 216 300 targeted beneficiaries; provision of essential emergency vaccinations to over 150 000 head of livestock; training of 50 community animal health workers to carry out disease surveillance for the entire livestock population in order to carry out vaccinations and treatment against livestock diseases; and increasing the capacity of women to improve household income and nutrition through a poultry restocking program targeting 500 households. The expected intermediate outcome is reduced vulnerability of crisis-affected people especially women and children.