Donkeys and mules play a vital but often unrecognised role in rebuilding disaster-hit communities in low-to middle-income countries, according to new research by The Donkey Sanctuary.
On the United Nations’ International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, the crucial role donkeys play in building resilience and the support they offer communities immediately after a disaster, is being marked by the international charity.
The Donkey Sanctuary’s research paper, Resilience and the Role of Equids in Humanitarian Crises was published in Disasters (July 2021), a peer-reviewed journal reporting on all aspects of disaster studies, policy and management.
The paper’s key author, Cara Clancy, Senior Researcher at The Donkey Sanctuary said: “Donkeys and mules are a key part of the social fabric in many lower to middle income countries (LMICs), providing an essential source of income for some of the most marginalised communities in the world.
“It is often these vulnerable populations, which suffer most when disaster strikes due to a lack of adequate housing, poor infrastructure and limited access to health services.”
The research shows working animals not only play an essential role in building resilience in but also offer crucial support immediately after a disaster. Aid efforts typically focus on people rebuilding the economy as well as damaged buildings, water supplies and communications after a humanitarian crisis but working donkeys and mules are indispensable in the rebuilding process.
Donkeys can transport people in and out of affected areas and deliver life-saving aid to communities, which cannot be reached by vehicles, for example. The animals can also transport materials for the re-building of roads, homes and other buildings damaged during the disaster.
Donkeys and mules were able to collect and deliver clean water and supplies after the 2015 earthquake in Nepal. The earthquake, which cost the lives of almost 9,000 people, flattened entire villages consisting of low-cost informal buildings that stood little chance of withstanding the devastating impact. It also cut off mountain communities when roads became hazardous or impassable for motorised vehicles.
More recently, donkeys have been helping rural communities in Africa during the global Covid-19 pandemic.
With funding from The Donkey Sanctuary and using local donkeys, the Meru Animal Welfare Organisation (MAWO) installed and filled water and soap dispensaries in medical centres across northern Tanzania to combat the spread of the disease.
Johnson Lyimo, President and Founder of MAWO said: “Donkeys were crucial in helping to build resilience in our area, the Simanjiro district of northern Tanzania. Local donkeys were crucial to move large quantities of water from distant sources needed to fill containers for patients to wash their hands before seeing a doctor.
“The project also helped to promote the importance of general good hygiene practices via the donkey-owning communities.”
Donkeys and mules also help their owners to get back to work, restoring income and social stability. An estimated 500 million people in the world’s poorest communities rely on working equids as a lifeline to support their livelihoods.
Donkeys and mules play an essential role ploughing and tilling agricultural land in rural communities. They often free up women to participate in economic activity, helping to elevate their social status; they may also liberate children enabling them to access education.
Tamlin Watson, Senior Researcher at The Donkey Sanctuary and contributor to the article said: “Working equines must be considered in the wider context of international development and achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Ending poverty and hunger for all requires building the resilience of the marginalised and vulnerable to reduce their exposure to climate-related events as well as other environmental shocks. Donkeys and mules help build this resilience.”
Extreme weather events such as drought, fire and flooding are becoming increasingly common due to climate change. Disasters are not always sudden like earthquakes or hurricanes; they can also build up slowly, as in the case of prolonged drought.
The research found donkeys play a critical role in recurrent and protracted crises, such as prolonged drought. They are increasingly important to the evolving survival tactics of rural communities in east Africa’s drylands, where there is increasing reliance on donkeys as they can survive in areas of sparse vegetation and little water.
The article is available free through open access here.
Global days in the UN calendar mark key issues on the international organisation’s agenda. This year’s focus for International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is on international cooperation to help countries curb their disaster risk and subsequent losses in lives, livelihoods and health.
The Donkey Sanctuary is a global leader for equine welfare, research and veterinary care. The charity operates programmes worldwide for animals working in agriculture, industry and transportation.
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The Donkey Sanctuary is the world's largest equine welfare charity. Our vision is a world where donkeys and mules live free from suffering and their contribution to humanity is fully valued. We run 10 sanctuaries around the UK and Europe, giving lifelong care to more than 7,000 donkeys and mules. Our hospital treats sick donkeys and trains vets both nationwide and worldwide. Our donkey-facilitated learning programme helps vulnerable children and adults develop life skills by connecting with donkeys on an emotional and physical level. The charity operates programmes worldwide for animals working in agriculture, industry and transportation, and those used in the production of meat and skin.
Please note that the name ‘The Donkey Sanctuary’ should not be abbreviated to ‘Donkey Sanctuary’, and the word ‘The’ should always appear with a capital ‘T’ as above.