Disaster Preparedness and Response in Mendoza

Fundación Cullunche is an animal welfare and conservation organisation based in Argentina. In 2014, it created a Veterinary Emergency Response Unit (VERU Group) to support people and their animals affected by natural disasters. The Unit plays a role in both disaster preparedness and disaster response in the region of Mendoza, an area of Argentina which is affected by seismic activity, floods and droughts. 

With this project, Fundación Cullunche’s VERU aims to carry out a disaster preparedness campaign, which would involve working with veterinary offices across Mendoza to educate people about disaster preparedness. Posters will be placed in veterinary offices to inform people about how to prepare “family plans” for themselves, and their pets, for potential natural disasters such as fires or floods. To be able to fulfil this project and the Foundation’s other work undertaking animal transfers, rescues, releases and distributing disaster aid, a large part of the funding will go to buying a new vehicle for the organisation, which up until now has been using the head of the Foundation’s private car.  

The VERU team works across the region of Mendoza in Argentina to provide assistance to animals impacted

by natural disasters and emergencies.

Assistance can be in the form of emergency food and veterinary care for displaced and inured animals.

The Mendoza region of Argentina has a large population of livestock and many people keep pets. Disaster preparedness plans are essential in region which experiences seismic activity and natural disasters to protect lives and livelihoods.