Happylittlegreensquirrel Posted February 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 It has not stopped raining since I left and the Tapa team are totally cut off , we are hoping one of the roads may be cleared in the next 48 hours so that we can get supplies in I cannot tell you bleak it is there and the forecast is for even more rain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happylittlegreensquirrel Posted February 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 This was the last reported posted by TAPAs head Vet Dr Roshan From Dr. Roshan in the Flood Zone Feb 3: We have had heavy rains for last few days and it has been pouring continuously since day before yesterday. We could not go out today as most of the roads are flooded, and water levels could go up in next 24 hours as the gates of Inginiyagala tanks (reservoirs) are opened. Access to the rural areas is become more difficult without a four wheel drive vehicle, which is needed even to go to town from our TAPA team house. We treated many animals on Wednesday with Embark, Habitat and Dogstar folks. It was a resettled area where the people received no assistance because of very poor roads and very difficult access. Most of the roads are completely washed off and flooded. The people here were very hard hit by the ear, and most families lost their male bread winners as a direct result of the war. They were doing faddy farming and rearing animals (Goats, Cattle and Buffaloes) as their livelihood but lost most of them last year due to drought. They were recovering from that condition when the flood hit. There are no veterinary service there and many animals are dying due to various illnesses. The people were so happy to have our service and escorted out teams around the village. We had to walk a lot but it was necessary as we had much to do. Most of the goats and cattle are having diarrhea and worm infestations which cause death. Most of the pens are in very poor condition and without proper roofing. Pneumonic conditions are very common in calves and goat kids. Most of them have nutritional deficiencies, which leads to most of the diseases and deaths. Some had foot rot and cellulites as they are in the flood water for a long period. There were some special cases which are mainly due to some mental effects on animals. We treated a cow who delivered a calf during the flood and the calf died as it was delivered directly to water. The mother then developed a mental sickness where she started drinking her own milk and was anorexic and showing some aggressive behavior when we reached her. Still births and abortions are really common now. There were a few cases of mastitis (milk fever) and pyometra. Dogs and cats have pre existing conditions like mange and worm infestations. We gave Anti rabies vaccine, the one and only vaccine they have ever received. We have not been doing spay/neuter due to the conditions. We distributed much deworming medicine and mineral supplement as there was a huge necessity of them. Few chickens were treated as they don’t have many. As part of this animal-people assistance effort, Project Embark and Habitat for Humanity were distributing clothes and some toys to keep the children occupied. We did a field clinic in the town and treated dogs for mange, flea and worm infestation and anti-rabies vaccines were given. It’s becoming more difficult to obtain drugs as the Colombo-Batticaloa roads are closed now due to flood in Manampitiya. There is temporarily no train access because one derailed. We hope that the water levels will go down when it stop raining. Still it is pouring heavily and we start experiencing some flood problems ourselves. You may need to send someone to rescue the TAPA team! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
incapuppy Posted February 5, 2011 Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 Oh crikey Sam, the conditions sound appalling and it must have been even more heartbreaking to witness it all first hand Bless all you volunteers for doing what you can xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kats n greys Posted February 6, 2011 Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 To all who helped these poor people - who aren't even worthy of a mention on the news here. Can't imagine what it was like to witness such things- Sam you must be so proud and amazed by what you and Dogstar are achieving - far more than you ever anticipated. :flowers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happylittlegreensquirrel Posted February 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happylittlegreensquirrel Posted February 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happylittlegreensquirrel Posted February 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happylittlegreensquirrel Posted February 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happylittlegreensquirrel Posted February 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happylittlegreensquirrel Posted February 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2011 reports from the team are the rain has stopped thankfully and the water level is going down slightly which means road access should be available shortly we are putting together another parcel of supplies and Aravinda will be making a 24 hour round trip to deliver it later this week Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greys mum Posted February 8, 2011 Report Share Posted February 8, 2011 (edited) It is so humbling to see pictures like that. Makes me ashamed of myself when I complain of a couple of days rain. Hope that the people can soon get back to some sort of normality and as many of their animals as possible can be saved. Edited February 8, 2011 by greys mum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happylittlegreensquirrel Posted February 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2011 Aravinda left the Dogstar HQ this morning to deliver more supplies of antibiotics , Ivermectin , Cattle and dog wormers to the Veterinary team from TAPA last week it took Aravinda and me 11 hours to make the journey back from Batticaloa in a van , this week he is going by bus to keep costs down ( we got a free lift in the van last week ) so he is in for a very very long few days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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