IFAW Sends Relief Supplies to Earthquake Epicenter

“The disaster has brought tremendous sufferings to millions of lives,” said Grace Ge Gabriel, IFAW’s Asia Regional Director. “We express our deepest sympathy to the victims of the earthquake. In addition to providing supplies to aid humanitarian relief efforts, we are prepared to send in a team of experts specialized in disaster response to rescue animals and prevent the spread of disease.”
 
IFAW has provided emergency relief to areas devastated by natural disasters such as the earthquake in Kobe Japan, the Indian Ocean tsunami and Hurricane Katrina in the USA. IFAW’s assistance to rescue both people and animals includes dispatching search and rescue teams, providing medical supplies and equipment and inoculating animals to prevent the spread of disease.
           
“We are urgently sourcing vaccinations for both human and animals and will deliver them to the disaster area as quickly as possible. Effective inoculation and humane handling of animals in the disaster is a scientifically proven method to prevent disease,” added Gabriel. “For many human victims, their family animal maybe all they have left. Saving these animals is vitally important for people to get their livelihood back, to heal and to find comfort in the  months and years ahead, as Sichuan rebuilds.”
 
On the loading platform at the Beijing train station, Mianyang city representative in Beijing thanked IFAW for the timely assistance and pledged to distribute the supplies to the victims in the epicenter as soon as possible.