How one charity is rescuing donkeys in Egypt

First established in 2000 to help thousands of working donkeys in Israel and the Palestinian Territories (West Bank), the charity Safe Haven for Donkeys has begun working with an Egyptian partner organisation, the Bridge Foundation (El Gesr), to provide care to the donkeys in the El Saf region of Egypt. 

Thousands of donkeys and mules work in the brick kilns in Egypt (of which there are approximately 1,000), carrying 1.4 to 1.6 tonnes of bricks and moving at an intense pace to prevent unfired bricks from cracking in the heat. Due to a lack of expert veterinary care, many of these animals are suffering intense pain from harness wounds, beatings, teeth and hoof issues and parasitic diseases spread by flies.

Now a collaboration between UK charity Safe Haven for Donkeys and Egyptian community development charity the Bridge Foundation is providing much-needed relief to these animals. The project includes a mobile veterinary clinic which treats common injuries and infections and trains owners on how to best look after their donkeys and mules. 

In a press release, Safe Haven for Donkeys CEO Andy Foxcroft said, “Through our work in Israel and the West Bank we came to know of millions of working animals in neighbouring Egypt without critical veterinary care, suffering a host of preventable and treatable painful conditions. Currently no other animal welfare charity provides veterinary interventions in these particular kilns, hence the need for Safe Haven’s expertise, on the ground, treating sick and injured animals and providing training for owners and local professionals (vets and farriers). This first year is vital as we hope to make a lasting impact by reducing the unnecessary suffering of working animals, which sadly, is all too common a feature in the brick kilns.”

Safe Haven for Donkeys’ work, which helps an estimated 10,000 animals a year, is made possible by charitable donations that fund the treatment and training that they offer. You can donate at safehaven4donkeys.org.