Helping animals amid humanitarian crisis in the DRC

SNA assessed two camps for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in late March in the South Kivu Province in eastern DRC. Nealy 2,000 animals were living with their families at these two camps. Conditions for the animals were poor, with some showing signs of illness and parasites, and families struggled to keep them fed. Until now, there have been no services at these camps to provide basic animal welfare.

Ms. Masika Kavira, a young mother who left behind most of her belongings to seek refuge at the Mungunga refugee camp, had her herd of cattle-her only form of livelihood-looted at the start of the war, leaving her family in total devastation. Masika left the conflict with her children, a few goats, and her dog, while her husband stayed back to protect their house and the other animals they left behind.

'Once I arrived at the camp, I was not allowed to bring my dog for hygiene reasons,' she says. 'I had to abandon my faithful companion at the entrance to the camp, which was heartbreaking for me. Now I'm left with my goats, which are suffering and dying for lack of proper care.'