Natural disasters have increased dramatically in the past 20 years. Not only they take a heavy human and economic toll, but they also severely impact animal health and welfare. This is why the Platform on Animal Welfare for Europe of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has established the welfare of animals during catastrophic events as a priority.
Created in 2013, this platform aims at empowering European Veterinary Services to take actions on animal welfare, in line with the OIE international Standards. To better support countries in their responses to disaster events, whether they are natural or man-made, a three-year pilot project was implemented in the Balkan countries.
The capacities developed thanks to the project allowed several countries in the region to progress towards new regulatory models and frameworks on disaster management.
In Bulgaria, for example, the veterinary authorities have recently approved a contingency plan for veterinary measures in case of natural disasters, as part of the National Disaster Protection Plan. By identifying the roles and responsibilities, as well as the measures to be taken by different actors during disasters, this plan will help reduce the adverse consequences of these events.
In the same vein, the Romanian National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (NSVFSA) has also elaborated a contingency plan for the management and risk reduction for animal health and welfare and veterinary public health in the case of floods. The plan will be integrated by the Ministry of the Environment, Waters and Forests in the national Management Plan for Floods Risk 2022-2027.
In parallel, the veterinary authorities in North Macedonia have already engaged in a cooperation agreement with the Red Cross to collaborate for the provision of emergency services during or immediately after a catastrophic event. Intersectoral and multidisciplinary approaches are essential principles for disaster management.
These achievements set a significant precedent for other countries in Europe. Let the examples encourage them to engage in preparedness as an essential step for adequate rapid response during a natural disaster.
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