Indian Veterinarian Peacekeepers Protect Cattle and Communities in South Sudan

At Tibek Cattle Camp near Bor, more than 2,000 cattle crowd together in the lush pastures of the rainy season.These animals are everything. But they are also a risk. When disease strikes, entire herds—and families—can be devastated.

That’s why Yar is grateful for the Indian veterinarians serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). For two weeks, they have been running veterinary camps, vaccinating animals, performing surgeries, and providing free medicines.

Beyond Medicine: Training and Prevention

The peacekeepers, led by Lieutenant Colonel Harmanjeet Singh Goraya, know that prevention is as important as treatment. His team has trained 60 local community members to serve as animal health workers, teaching them how to identify, prevent, and treat common cattle diseases. These skills mean villages can continue caring for their herds even when UNMISS teams are not nearby.

Why Healthy Cattle Mean Peace

In South Sudan, cattle are not just livestock—they are currency, status, and security. Families use cattle to buy food, pay dowries, and settle disputes. But their value also fuels deadly raids and clashes between herding and farming communities competing for land and water.

By strengthening animal health, UNMISS veterinarians are also easing tensions.

Simple Solutions, Big Impact

Sometimes the solutions are local. UNMISS vets teach herders how to fight ticks—one of the biggest threats to cattle—by boiling leaves from the common Neem tree and applying the mixture to animals. Small, accessible remedies like this can make a big difference.

With tens of millions of cattle across South Sudan, providing care is an enormous challenge. But for these family, every treated animal is hope for tomorrow.