Today we’re sharing the latest update we’ve received from Dr Saif, whose team continues their extraordinary work with donkeys and horses in Gaza, despite unimaginable conditions.
His words speak for themselves. The situation is dire, but his determination is deeply moving. I hope you’ll take a moment to read his update below.
Even now, the team is treating wounded animals and – at times – risking their lives to bring first aid to donkeys and horses. These animals are vital to their communities, helping to transport food, water, and even the injured to hospital.
Tomorrow, we’ll be launching an urgent appeal to support this work but if you’d like to help right away, you can do so here:
Give now to support Dr Saif’s team in Gaza.
And if donating isn’t possible right now, you can still make a huge difference by sharing our appeal with friends and family – we’ll be posting updates on our Facebook page over the coming weeks. Thank you.
Dr Saif’s diary from Gaza
Thursday 24th July
Securing veterinary supplies here in Gaza is nearly impossible.
We had hidden essential medicines beneath the broken concrete of our old clinic, hoping they’d survive. Mohammed – my brother and a vital member of our team – had retrieved some already. But yesterday – despite everything – he went back for the rest.
He returned covered in ash, riding his old bicycle with a bag of lifesaving medicines strapped to the back. I stood frozen with relief that he had made it back. His journey was full of risk, but he told me he had to do it – to help all the animals who need us.
Mohammed exhausted from fetching vital medications hidden in the rubble of the team’s clinic. He also received terrible news – this brother-in-law was killed while going to fetch food for his family from an aid point.
Now those hidden supplies are all used up, from this point on, we will need to buy medicine locally. But prices are many times higher than normal, and every dose of medicine will cost us far more than it should.
Mohammed and the team continue – despite everything – to treat hundreds of animals in need.
Many ask, “If people are starving, what happens to the animals?”
The donkeys, our most loyal of companions, are starving too. Yet they survive because we share what little we have. We would tear our last loaf in half – one piece for our children, one for the donkey.
It’s not just survival. It’s love. A bond forged in dust and despair. Even in the hardest times we remember them – because they never stop helping us by carrying our food, our water, even our people to hospital.
Donkeys and horses are vital to life in Gaza – they are a lifeline for their owners and communities.
This last week – despite the conditions here in Gaza – we managed to complete 18 field visits, walking through rubble and broken streets to reach wounded animals, mainly donkeys.
In total 156 animals received first aid. This is all thanks to our supporters – you are vital to our work, helping us to continue.
Yours, Dr Saif.
The team have carried out 18 field visits during the last week – helping 156 animals.
Our work in Gaza continues because it must – we are the only mobile team helping donkeys and horses. And on Monday, we’ll be sending you an urgent appeal to help us raise money to restock our vital medicines.
Please look out for it – or if you’d like to help now please click here. Your support means the world to our Gaza team – thank you so much.
Thank you ♥️♥️
Everything our vet teams do to support working donkeys, mules, and horses is only possible because of you. Your generosity helps us protect animals and support their owners across the West Bank, Gaza, and Egypt – as well as care for rescued donkeys at our sanctuary in Israel and our rescue centre and hospital in the West Bank.
Thank you for making this vital work possible.
Your support will help fund our mobile team in Gaza and buy vital medications to help donkeys and horses in need. Thank you.