New Delhi, Oct 13 (PTI) On the International DisasterRisk Reduction Day, an animal protection body has called forinclusion of animals in disaster response plans of stategovernments.
World Animal Protection, an international non-profitanimal welfare organisation, said millions of poor people relyon their animals for food, transport and their livelihoods,and when disasters strike, the impact is devastating for theanimals and the communities that depend on them.
It said India last year became one of the few nations tohave included rescue, relief and rehabilitation of animalsduring disasters in the National Disaster Management Plan, andit is essential that all states integrate animals in theirdisaster response plans.
"When major disasters strike, survival of people and therecovery of whole communities is inextricably linked to thesurvival of animals. We must reduce the risks of losing petsand livestock by strengthening the community's capabilities tocope with recurring disasters.
"A disaster can destroy a family's annual income, whilstalso having the power to devastate a whole nation; makingresilience building a vital step. By helping animals, we aresustainably safeguarding livelihoods, food security andresilience to disasters," said Gajender K Sharma, IndiaCountry Director at World Animal Protection.
It said whenever a disaster hits, mass evacuation ofpeople leaves pets and herds of livestock bereft of theirowners.
A large number of animals perish and those which surviveare confused, hungry, scared and injured which could beavoided with better disaster prevention, the organisationadded. PTI TDS VITSRY.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.