Shkodar, Albania - Over 6,000 starving sheep stranded by floods in Northern Albania will receive emergency food supplies organised by the SNV Balkans ProMali project.

Flooded winter pastures and winter food reserves have left cattle and sheep which have come down from the mountain pastures with little or no food. Many lambs have no milk because their mothers have been drowned. SNV have arranged for emergency supplies of food meal to be delivered to the region to keep sheep fed until the water subsides and the pasture is open.

Martin West, leader of the Promali project stated, “When our team received a call for help from farmers in the region, we have immediately reacted to do what we can to help avert a tragedy for the animals and the families that rely on them for their livelihood. For most families, livestock represent the main source of income, and the situation is critical.”

SNV advisor, Shpresa Arbi, Livestock Manager for the Promali Project said that the feed is currently being produced and deliveries will start shortly. “We are travelling to Shkodra now to organize and deliver the feed. It is extremely vital to safeguard the breeding stock as well as lambs because the loss of breeding stock will affect farmers’ incomes for several years to come.”

Army troops are helping to evacuate people and livestock marooned by the floods caused by rapidly rising water levels in the Shkodra region. About 8,000 hectares of land are estimated to be under water.

The SNV managed ProMali programme works for the benefit of mountainous areas in Albania, improving agricultural opportunities in the region. ProMali is a jointly funded by the Danish Neighbourhood Programme and SNV in Albania.