Indian peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have launched a transformative veterinary assistance programme in Jonglei State, one of the country's most conflict-affected regions. By providing essential animal healthcare services, these peacekeepers are addressing a critical need in communities where livestock represents not just economic security but cultural identity and survival itself.
The Critical Role of Livestock in South Sudan
In South Sudan, particularly in Jonglei State, livestock constitutes the backbone of rural livelihoods. Cattle, goats, and sheep provide families with milk, meat, and income through trade. For many communities, animals serve as a form of savings, a source of bride wealth, and a measure of social status. When disease strikes herds, the impact extends far beyond economic loss—it threatens food security, social stability, and the very fabric of pastoral life.
The region has long struggled with limited access to veterinary services due to ongoing conflict, poor infrastructure, and a severe shortage of trained animal health workers. Common livestock diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, and parasitic infections regularly devastate herds, pushing vulnerable families deeper into poverty.
Indian Peacekeepers' Veterinary Intervention
The Indian contingent within UNMISS has deployed veterinary teams equipped with medicines, vaccines, and diagnostic tools to remote areas of Jonglei. These peacekeepers, many of whom have veterinary training from India's robust animal husbandry sector, conduct mobile clinics that reach communities previously cut off from professional animal healthcare.
Their services include vaccination campaigns against prevalent livestock diseases, treatment of sick animals, training local community members in basic animal health practices, and providing nutritional advice to improve herd productivity. The peacekeepers also distribute essential veterinary supplies and educate farmers on disease prevention measures that can be sustained after the peacekeepers complete their mission.
Community Impact and Economic Benefits
The impact of this veterinary assistance extends across multiple dimensions of community wellbeing. Healthy livestock means improved milk production, providing essential nutrition for children and nursing mothers. Families can sell surplus dairy products and animals in better condition, generating income for school fees, medical care, and household necessities.
Reduced livestock mortality rates help preserve family wealth and provide economic resilience against shocks such as drought or crop failure. Communities report that with healthier animals, they face fewer disputes over grazing resources and reduced pressure to raid neighboring groups for cattle replacement—a common source of intercommunal violence in the region.
Building Local Capacity
Beyond immediate veterinary care, the Indian peacekeepers focus on sustainability by training community animal health workers. These local volunteers receive instruction in recognizing disease symptoms, administering basic treatments, and understanding when to seek advanced veterinary assistance. By building this local capacity, the programme creates a lasting infrastructure for animal health that will continue serving communities long after peacekeepers depart.
Women, who often play significant roles in small livestock management, have been particular beneficiaries of training programmes, gaining knowledge that enhances their household decision-making authority and economic contribution.
The Broader Peace Dividend
This veterinary mission demonstrates how peacekeeping extends beyond security provision to address fundamental drivers of conflict. In regions where resource scarcity fuels violence, improving livestock health reduces economic desperation and competition over grazing lands. The presence of peacekeepers delivering tangible development benefits also strengthens trust between communities and international actors.
The Indian contribution leverages India's own experience in rural development and livestock management, sectors where the country has developed significant expertise serving its own vast rural population. This South-South cooperation model allows peacekeepers to share contextually relevant solutions adapted to similar agricultural and climatic conditions.
Challenges and Future Directions
Despite these successes, challenges remain. The vastness of Jonglei State, seasonal flooding that makes many areas inaccessible, and ongoing security concerns limit the reach of veterinary services. Sustainable funding for medicines and supplies requires continued support from UN member states and international donors.
The programme's future effectiveness depends on strengthening collaboration with South Sudan's Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, ensuring that capacity-building efforts integrate with national animal health strategies as the country continues its state-building process.
This initiative exemplifies how peacekeeping missions can deliver multidimensional benefits, addressing immediate humanitarian needs while contributing to longer-term stability and development in fragile post-conflict environments.
