MARIE CARTER-ROBB Talks to Dr SAIF ALDEN on the Frontline of Animal Suffering and Rehabilation
In an exclusive interview for The Pets Mag Podcast, I had the privilege of speaking to Dr SAIF ALDEN, the man at the heart of Gaza’s only dedicated veterinary mission for working animals. Despite the devastation of war, he and his team continue their life-saving work, treating donkeys, horses, and even pets in conditions most of us can barely comprehend.
Connecting via satellite internet link-up, Dr Saif painted a stark picture of the suffering animals face: burns caused by explosions, malnutrition, dehydration, and broken bones from relentless overwork. Yet amidst the horror, there is hope, his team is making a real difference, treating thousands of animals in one of the most dangerous places on Earth.
This is their story.
“The Day We Started, We Treated 30 Donkeys”
When war erupted in Gaza, the need for veterinary care became more urgent than ever. Dr Saif recalls the moment he was approached by UK charity Safe Haven for Donkeys to lead the mission.
“Last year, I got a call. They asked if I could set up a mobile clinic to save Gaza’s donkeys. It was the right time because so many animals were dying…so many. Within a week, I wrote a proposal. Then I found a professional vet, a professional farrier, and an assistant, and we took action.”
The response was immediate.
“On the very first day of operations, we treated 30 donkeys. Imagine that. People knew us within hours,” he says.
Since then, the clinic has provided critical veterinary care to over 6,000 animals, working under conditions most could never imagine.
A CRISIS WITHIN A CRISIS: GAZA’S ANIMALS IN DESPERATE NEED
With roads destroyed and motor vehicles rendered useless due to extreme fuel shortages, donkeys and horses have become the backbone of survival in Gaza.
“Fuel is ten times more expensive than before,” Dr Saif explains. “We have no choice but to rely on donkeys.
They carry food, water, medical supplies and even transport pregnant women to hospital to give birth.”
But the relentless workload is taking its toll. The clinic is treating an ever-growing number of injuries and illnesses caused by starvation, exhaustion, and war-related wounds.
“We are seeing so many cases—skin infections, hoof problems, severe malnutrition, dehydration. And then we have wounds from explosions, from bombs. Broken bones are one of the biggest problems we face,” he tells me.
The suffering is not just physical. The emotional toll on these animals is heart-wrenching.
“I am actually writing a research paper on this – how the war affects animals psychologically,” he says.
“I have documented cases where donkeys cry. They shed tears when they lose their babies or their owners.
“We are seeing animals that are depressed, withdrawn, refusing to eat.”
AN UNIMAGINABLE STRUGGLE TO DELIVER CARE
Operating a mobile veterinary clinic in Gaza is no small feat. Every day, Dr Saif and his team risk their lives to reach animals in need.
“Just to get medical supplies, we have to travel 10, 20, sometimes 40 kilometres. Roads are destroyed. Instead of taking 10 minutes to reach an injured animal, it takes us an hour or more,” he says.
The lack of facilities also means they are limited in the treatments they can provide.
“We cannot perform major surgical operations because we have no proper place to do them,” he explains. “
“We do everything we can – patch them up, stabilise them, help them recover -but in serious cases, we simply don’t have the resources.”
Despite these challenges, the clinic continues to operate thanks to the support of Safe Haven for Donkeys, the only charity on the ground providing this kind of care.
“Without them, we could not do this work. They are fully funding us, providing everything we need,” he says.
A MIRACLE IN THE MIDST OF WAR: ONE DONKEY’S STORY OF SURVIVAL
Among the thousands of animals treated, one case stands out to Dr Saif.
“Just before the ceasefire, I got a desperate call from a man named Ali. His donkey, his only source of income, was in distress. She was giving birth but couldn’t push the baby out. He was begging us…
‘Please, doctor, please, this donkey is our life,’” he recalls.
Dr Saif and his team rushed to the scene.
“We worked for hours.”
Finally, we managed to save both the mother and baby. Ali was crying, thanking us, thanking Safe Haven for Donkeys. That donkey didn’t just carry goods – it carried his family’s survival.”
It’s moments like these that keep Dr Saif and his team going, despite the danger and hardship.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Safe Haven for Donkeys is desperately trying to raise £50,000 to fund more veterinary supplies, food, and medical aid for Gaza’s donkeys and horses.
“Every single donation makes a difference. Every pound could save an animal’s life,” Dr Saif urges.
If you want to support this vital mission, you can donate via Safe Haven for Donkeys’ website:
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE: EXPANDING THE MISSION
Despite the overwhelming challenges, Dr Saif is hopeful for the future.
“We are setting up a new team in Rafah – one of the biggest cities in Gaza. And another team will operate in the north, where the need is even greater,” he shares.
The next step? A permanent veterinary centre where life-saving surgeries can be performed.
“We dream of a place where we can properly treat and heal these animals. If we get the funding, we can make it happen,” he says.
For now, the mobile clinic remains the only hope for Gaza’s forgotten victims, the donkeys, horses, cats, and dogs who suffer in silence.
FINAL THOUGHTS: A MISSION OF COMPASSION IN THE DARKEST OF TIMES
As our interview draws to a close, I am struck by Dr Saif’s unwavering commitment.
“We believe that every life matters—human and animal. These donkeys, these horses, they are suffering just as much as we are. And we will not abandon them,” he tells me.
In the face of unimaginable hardship, his words resonate. In Gaza, amidst destruction and despair, there is still compassion. There is still hope.
And thanks to Dr Saif, his team, and the unwavering support of Safe Haven for Donkeys, thousands of animals will live to see another day.
To listen to the full interview with Dr Saif Alden, tune into the Pets Magazine podcast – available now on all streaming platforms.
This article also features in the March edition of Pets Magazine – available here and on PressReader.