Valencia, an endless massacre: almost 3 thousand animals dead (but we can help those who are still fighting)

The recent flood caused by DANA it had devastating effects in various areas of the Valencian Community, affecting in a particular way the agricultural sector and livestock. The Generalitat of Valencia, through its Department of Agriculture, has taken steps to remove animal bodies to prevent possible risks to public health linked to the spread of diseases.

The numbers are impressive: starting from October 30th over 2,950 animals including sheep, pigs, horses and poultry were found dead on farms and ranches in the most affected areas, such as L’Horta Sud, La Ribera Alta, La Ribera Baixa, Hoya de Buñol and Requena.

The floods have compromised reserves of feed, drinking water and fodder

The DANA phenomenon has caused enormous damage, estimated at around 12 billion euros, with consequences also on educational and industrial infrastructures. The farmers, already in difficulty due to damage to structures and the inability to access fodder, have seen decimate your livestockputting their economic survival at risk.

Cristóbal Aguado, president of the Association of Young Farmers of the Valencian Community (AVA-Asaja), explained that many farms have suffered heavy flooding, compromising reserves of feed, drinking water and fodder and in some cases causing the death of animals. He also underlined the urgency of reaching the affected sites to ensure nourishment and water for the surviving animals, avoiding a further worsening of the situation.

To respond to this emergency, the Tragsa company and the public company Vaersa, appointed by the Consell, carried out around a thousand interventions in the various farms to respond to emergency calls. In addition to the removal of the carcasses, have been undertaken support operations to restore access routes and provide fodder and resources to the still isolated farms.

How to help animals and farmers

But what can be done to help? In the face of this tragedy, solidarity initiatives have also emerged. The Valencian Community, through organizations such as the Association of Spanish Pure Horse Breeders (PRECVAL) and the Equestrian Federation of the Community, has established collection points for donations of fodder, bedding and feed in various locations.

And the first effects are already being seen. The president of PRECVAL, José Antonio Esteban, thanked the numerous associations, federations and donors from different Spanish regions who contributed to help over one hundred farms.

Despite the losses, we are working with determination to save the remaining animals alive and support the recovery of the sector in what, more than a week later, continues to be an endless catastrophe that has affected everyone, from people – with 219 confirmed dead and a hundred still missing (even if there is no certainty about these numbers because they are only active complaints and the data still need to be cross-referenced with the unidentified recovered victims, currently 54) – up to the poor animals who found themselves submerged in water and mud without being able escape.