25 August 2011 - UNAMID has begun an airlift of vaccines for a three-month campaign to protect livestock herds in Darfur.

The first batch of vaccines airlifted by UNAMID arrived on Wednesday and was handed over to officials of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries in El Fasher, North Darfur. The airlifts will continue in coming weeks.

The operation is aimed at preventing any outbreak of major livestock diseases during the rainy season.

The African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) is supporting the FAO and the Ministry in transporting the vaccines from Khartoum. Vaccines have to be kept at optimum temperature and UNAMID’s airlift operation ensures all batches arrive in good condition.