Operations in Afghanistan still affected by Corona Virus

AAA partner group in Afghanistan, the Nowzad Donkey Sanctuary, still operates the first and only donkey shelter in Afghanistan situated on the outskirts of Kabul. Their operations for the working animals of Kabul had to be put on hold as the coronavirus pandemic hit Afghanistan.
A government enforced lockdown began in early April which was to last 19 weeks. The Nowzad team in Kabul went into lockdown which included the donkey sanctuary staff remaining at the shelter 24/7 to care for the residents with only resupply runs from the main clinic once per week.
All of the donkeys plus Azad the horse, David the bull, Jaja the goat and of course; Nazir and Juma the sanctuary staff, came out of lockdown safely; but it was a tough and very long period of isolation for all involved.
Afghanistan is still very much in the grip of the pandemic now, the WHO estimates that 1/3 of the population of 39 million people have been infected and with government restrictions lifted and currently zero adherence to social distancing or mask wearing, then the situation is only going to worsen.
The Nowzad team are taking it day by day at the moment and have yet to restart their working donkey programme as they look to protect the staff.
With no vaccine in sight and the strong feeling that Afghanistan will be last on the list for distribution if one is found; they are treading carefully with one eye firmly on ensuring everyone stay fit and healthy to care for the animals they currently have in their care.
The life of a working donkey or horse on the streets of Kabul is one of cruel hardship and despair. Nowzad's programme to promote animal welfare amongst the local working donkey population consisted of one day per week (Limited sadly, due to the lack of major funding) taking place along the main working donkey routes offering owners advice and free treatment for on the spot conditions noticed by the veterinary team.
The project was suspended at the outbreak of the corona virus pandemic and due to the continued rising infection rates in Kabul, it has yet to be resumed at the time of writing.

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