Guatemala

COVID-19 has had a negative impact on the lives of women and girls and other vulnerable groups such as the elderly, people with chronic diseases and disabilities, migrants, refugees and returnees, indigenous and peasant populations, and people who depend on informal or temporary employment. The single parent population, mainly with women as heads of household, will also be negatively impacted. When populations are impoverished or sick, the working equine will suffer.

Brooke East Africa

The effects of COVID-19 have also taken it tall on the fight against the donkey hide trade across East Africa. There is a hold on all matters concerning legal action or lobbying by the donkey slaughter houses. To date, court hearings have not taken place, and the ban is now in effect.  However, two of the four slaughter houses are reportedly still operating illegally and Brooke East Africa continues to lobby provincial governments, law enforcement officials and local partners to enforce the ban.

Senegal

Senegal, one of Brooke USA’s funded countries, has already been impacted by COVID-19 with, according to the US Embassy in Senegal, 226 cases reported as of April 6.

With mandatory lock-downs, the Senegalese economy is at risk, affecting day-to-day business dealings and in many cases, working animals suffer. In order to abide by the curfew, working equines carry heavier loads, and have less opportunities to rest, eat or drink water.

Ethiopia

As throughout the rest of Africa, COVID-19 threatens to disproportionately hit Ethiopia, not only as a health crisis in the short-term but also as a devastating economic crisis over the months to follow. Certainly, the pandemic will impact education, human rights, politics, personal safety, and even access to food and water. And, as we all know, when people hurt so do their working equines. These animals will suffer due to lack of care, including abandonment, no shelter, hunger, and thirst.