Egypt: Pigs still being killed
We have received two recent reports related to the killing of pigs in Egypt, as a consequence of the H1N1 epidemic. The first report indicates that significant discussions took place in Paris at the OIE meeting in May and that positive steps are being taken. However, it appears that pigs are still being killed, on the ground, in Egypt.
Therefore more help is needed for the pigs. Please see below for what you can do to help the pigs in Egypt and to read Best Friends Network, and other, previous articles.
Part One: From a report by Josphat Ngonyo, Director of the African Network for Animal Welfare
Part Two: Information provided by Amina Abaza, SPARE, in Cairo
Part One:
In a report by Josphat Ngonyo, following a May meeting in Paris of the World Organization for Animal Health, where he represented the organization Compassion in World Farming, he writes that there was much discussion about the mass killing of pigs by the Egyptian government in the wake of the H1N1 epidemic.
At the time the slaughter of the pigs began, there had been no incidents of H1N1 in Egypt at all. There has never been any indication that pigs are in any way involved in the transmission of H1N1.
Josphat Ngonyo expresses the hope that they may be nearing a lasting solution-- "a solution that will prevent it [the killing of pigs] from ever occurring again through the concerted effort of OIE, WSPA and the International Coalition for Farm Animal Welfare (ICFAW)"
There had been a great deal of pressure exerted on the OIE to intervene in the killing of the pigs by the Egyptian authorities, on the grounds that the ways in which they pigs were being killed were extremely inhumane and contravened the standards that had been set by the OIE. Josphat Ngonyo met with the OIE President, Barry O'Neal about this issue. The OIE stuck to their position, insisting that their role cannot be to force member states to abide by the guidelines. Instead, they will do their best to assist member states in any efforts they make to implement the OIE standards, and they will help with capacity-building.
Representatives of the Egyptian government, WSPA, and the International Coalition for Farm Animal Welfare held a meeting. The Chief Veterinary Officer in Egypt, Dr. Abdil Samaha and a colleague of his, Professor Hassan Aidaros were there representing Egypt. David Wilkins and David Bayvel represented the ICFAW.
Josphat Ngonyo reports that the Egyptian representatives presented the following information:
No more pigs are now being culled. So far 160,000 pigs have been killed. 10,000 pigs have been left alive to be used for breeding. The Ministry of Agriculture, which Dr. Samaha is part of, did not authorize the culling of the pigs. Instead, the culling was authorized by the Ministry of Health and by local governments.
The decision was made for OIE, together with WSPA, and the International Coalition for Farm Animal Welfare to visit Egypt. The purpose of their visit will be to assist with capacity-building.
This is the statement of the agreement reached at that meeting:
During the 77th World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) General Session, held in Paris from 24 to 29 May, the OIE National Delegate for Egypt met with the OIE President and officials, the Chair of the OIE Animal Welfare Working Group and the Chief Veterinary Adviser of the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), who also represents the International Coalition for Farm Animal Welfare (ICFAW) to discuss the recent slaughter of pigs in Egypt.
The Chief Veterinary Officer of Egypt clarified the background to the slaughter decision and future plans to establish a new pig industry. He also confirmed the Egyptian Government's desire to work closely with the OIE and the WSPA, who work in close collaboration with the other members of ICFAW on this matter.
It was agreed that all three parties will meet, as soon as possible, in Cairo to discuss how best to put into practice the offers of assistance from OIE and WSPA/ICFAW.
These offers include potential training assistance on methods of killing for disease control, plus scientific and technical advice to enable Egypt to establish a new modern pig industry outside the urban areas that provides good health and welfare to the animals.
These are welcome steps.
Part Two
Based on information sent to Best Friends by Amina Abaza. Founder of SPARE (Society for the Protection of Animal Rights in Egypt), however; the killing of the pigs in Egypt has not stopped, but is continuing--and more needs to be done.
Amina Abaza writes:
Caution. There are no graphic details; however, the events are disturbing.
"The pigs are being killed in a suburb of Cairo called Helwan. They are not even slaughtered in the slaughterhouses. The owners of the pigs were killing them, because they receive a small compensation for each pig killed.
"This was reported on the front page of the newspaper Al Masryalyoum three days ago. The newspaper also added that they were massacred in a very barbaric way, completely against OIE standards.
"11,000 pigs will be killed this week. The Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Amin Abaza [no relationship to Amina Abaza] has given an ultimatum to the pig owners that this must be done.
"On June 10, Al Masryalyoum reported that the Council of Ministers has charged the Ministry of Agriculture with the task of slaughtering these pigs within one week. The Coptic Christian Church is mediating and trying to stop this resolution from being carried out.
"On June 11, Al Masryalyoum reported that the Helwan Governor had responded to the published newspaper reports by issuing orders to halt the slaughtering of pigs by the farmers and to have them slaughtered in the Bassatin slaughterhouse instead.
It seems clear from these reports that the slaughter of the pigs is continuing--despite the very energetic steps taken by many of the Egyptian Animal Welfare groups to stop the killing of the pigs.
What you can do
If you'd like to speak out on behalf of the pigs in Egypt, please contact the following two government ministers. In order to be effective, please write a brief, polite email or letter.
Please ask the Egyptian government to stop killing the pigs.
Please write, call, or fax:
The Egyptian Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation:
Mr. Amin Ahmed Mohamed Othman Abaza
5 Hunting Club St. Dokki- Giza
Phone: 33372253-33372364-33372866
Fax: 37498128
http://www.agri.gov.eg
The Egyptian Health Minister:
Dr. Hatem Mostafa Mostafa El-Gabaly
3 Magles El Shaab St., Kasr El Aini St.Cairo
Phone: 27940526-27941507
Fax: 27953966
Email: moh@idsc.gov.eg
http://www.mohp.gov.eg
To read the account in Al Masryalyoum, in Arabic, please go to http://www.almasry-alyoum.com>
To read these related stories previously posted on the Best Friends Network, please go to
Killing pigs to prevent swine flu?
http://network.bestfriends.org/egypt/news/33925.html
Egypt: Animal groups defend pigs
http://network.bestfriends.org/egypt/news/34449.html
To read, in the June 2009, edition of Animal People Newspaper, "Egypt uses H1N1 flu as pretext to massacre pigs", you may subscribe by going to
http://www.animalpeoplenews.org/
The websites of Egyptian and other relevant animal welfare organizations:
AWAR Group (Animal Welfare Awareness Research Group of Egypt)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/awar/
ESMA (Egyptian Society for Mercy for Animals)
http://esmaegypt.org
EMRO (Egyptian Mau Rescue Organization)
http://emaurescue.org/
SPARE (Society for the Protection of Animal Rights in Egypt)
http://sparelives.org/
To visit the websites of, and for contact information for, ESAF and other Egyptian animal welfare groups, please go to
MENAW - the Middle East Network for Animal Welfare
http://www.menaw.net/indexB.htm
The Africa Network for Animal Welfare
http://www.anaw.org
World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) http://www.oie.int/eng
World Society for the Protection of Animals
http://www.wspa-international.org/
Compassion in World Farming
http://www.ciwf.org.uk
Posted by Sharon St Joan, Best Friends Network
Top photo: © Tsekhmister / Dreamstime.com
Second photo: © Tsekhmister / Dreamstime.com
Third photo: © Photomarc / Dreamstime/com