Animals in disaster must not be an ‘afterthought’ WSPA tells the United Nations
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WSPA and the Mexican Government will be co-hosting an event at the United National to discuss animals in disaster.
This article was written when we were called the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA). Find out about our name change.
On May 23rd 2013, we will be joining the Mexican Government in Geneva for the United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction conference to host an event to outline what is needed to help safeguard the hundreds of thousands of animals and the millions of people who are affected each year by disasters.
We are the first animal welfare organisation to host an event at the UN and to bring the disaster planning to life, with the help of the Aldama authority in Chihuahua State of Mexico.
Watch our video from the state of Chihuahua, showing how poor communities protect their livestock from the destructive forces of climate change.
The pressing issues that will be discussed include:
- One billion of the worlds’ poorest people rely on livestock and other animals for food, transport and their livelihood
- Identifying where animals and their communities need support implementing the solutions with great success
Mike Baker, Chief Executive of WSPA and one of the speakers at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction said: “When major disasters strike, the survival of people and the recovery of whole communities are inextricably linked to the survival of animals. We must reduce the risks of losing livestock for poor people by strengthening their capabilities to cope with recurring disasters.
“By helping animals, we are sustainably safeguarding livelihoods, food security and ultimate resilience to disasters.”
On an individual level a disaster can destroy a family’s annual income, but it also has the power to devastate a whole nation, making resilience building a vital step. For nearly 50 years, we have been working alongside everyone from global and local level governments, humanitarian organisations and grassroots communities to help promote the solutions that will ultimately help reduce the billions of dollars that disasters can cost a nation
“By helping animals, we are sustainably safeguarding livelihoods, food security and ultimate resilience to disasters.