In Sudan's Darfur region, over one million animals were vaccinated against five major diseases that have affected animals in the area this year, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries (MARF) in Sudan said. The ICRC and MARF teamed up in the effort to reduce animal risk to disease. Also, 100,000 animals in South Kordofan were also part of the immunizations. “Animal health has been a major concern for nomads in Darfur and South Kordofan,” said Christophe Driesse, who coordinates the ICRC's economic security activities in Sudan. “Armed clashes are making it difficult for them to obtain veterinary services and to reach the grazing areas where they used to take their animals. The vaccination of animals is an essential means of supporting their livelihood.” According to the joint statement from the ministry and the ICRC, the vaccinations should help prevent widespread pandemics within animal populations of cows, goats, sheep, camels, horses and donkeys, and at the same time limit the possible spread to human populations. BM