Thanks to your kindness, our mobile veterinary team in Gaza have remained active throughout May, reaching working animals across Khan Yunis, Deir al-Balah and Rafah. Among them were 487 donkeys and horses – animals that have become essential for transporting water, food, supplies and people in communities where normal infrastructure has largely collapsed.
The need for veterinary care continues to grow. During May alone, our team responded to 63 emergency cases, often travelling across damaged roads and challenging terrain to reach animals suffering from serious injuries, disease and exhaustion.
You can read our latest operational report here, to see the scale of the work taking place. Below is just a glimpse of how your support is making a difference on the ground.
Thank you for caring so deeply about Gaza’s animals and the people who depend on them.
Update from Gaza
Today, in Gaza, animals are far more than livestock or working companions. Donkeys and horses have become a lifeline for countless families, helping transport water, food, fuel and essential supplies. By funding the protection of the health and welfare of these animals, you are also helping to protect the people whose daily lives depend upon them.
Horses, donkeys and mules are vital in Gaza – here you a see a donkey pulling a cart. The ‘trousers’ are to help protect the animal from irritation and bites due to flies.
Many donkeys and horses are working longer hours than ever before while receiving inadequate nutrition and limited access to clean water. During May, our team treated hundreds of working animals suffering from exhaustion, weight loss, dehydration, wounds, infections and mobility problems caused by the immense pressures they face every day.
Life continues to be incredibly hard in Gaza – but our team are also working hard to support working animals vital to everyday life.
One recent call concerned a young donkey suffering from severe mange. The journey to reach him was far from easy. Roads were heavily damaged, strewn with rubble and debris, making access difficult. But our vet team was determined to help.
After finally reaching the donkey, a full veterinary examination was carried out and treatment was provided. With medications administered and a care plan put in place, follow-up visits already scheduled to monitor the donkey’s recovery and ensure he continues to improve.
A donkey with severe mange was soon given treatment – and is starting to improve thanks to the care from our vet team.
After the donkey had been treated, the owner and his family invited our team to share tea and biscuits with them. It may sound like a small gesture, but under the current circumstances in Gaza it was an incredibly generous gift.
Moments like these strengthen their determination to keep going, helping animals and the families who rely on them, no matter how difficult the circumstances become.
This kind gesture of biscuits and tea from the donkey’s owner was so gratefully received by our team.
Thank you ♥️♥️
Your support helps us fund our vet teams in Gaza, the West Bank, and Egypt, bringing vital veterinary treatment directly to working donkeys, mules and horses in desperate need. You are also caring for rescue donkeys at our sanctuaries in Israel and the West Bank, where they receive nutritious food, specialist care, and the safety of a forever home.
Thank you for caring for these gentle animals.
Despite the hardship in Gaza, there are still moments of hope. Here, Najeeba (Dr Saif’s wife) and Mohammed are pictured with a horse the team treated just a few weeks ago. Thanks to their dedication – and your support – he has made a remarkable recovery and is now in excellent condition. Thank you.