200,000 animals dead in Pakistan floods: FAO

ISLAMABAD - Over 200,000 domesticated animals have died in the floods in Pakistan, and poultry in many areas have been completely wiped out, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said Friday.

Many domestic animals like cows, sheep, buffalo, goats and donkeys have been confirmed dead in Pakistan but the final number will be much higher, possibly in millions, Xinhua reported citing a FAO statement.

Many animals died because people had to leave them behind when they were rescued, the statement said.

“You can put chickens, goats and sheep in the boat and take them with you but you can’t take a buffalo or a cow,” said Simon Mack, chief of the Livestock Production Systems Branch.

Livestock make up about half of the country’s agricultural gross domestic product (GDP), said FAO.

“Livestock in this country are the poor people’s mobile ATM,” said David Doolan, a senior FAO officer in Pakistan.

“In good times, people build up herds and in bad times, they sell livestock to generate cash. Every animal we save is a productive asset that poor families can use to rebuild their lives when the floods finally pass.”

The main priority was to get feed to the animals that have survived. However, much of the traditional animal feed - like straw and grass - has been lost in the floods.

The UN has asked for $5.7 million in emergency assistance for livestock and FAO has mobilised $1.4 million for the procurement of feed and for animal vaccines.