Besides, specific activities are devoted to equine and camel diseases which require continuous attention in the coming years.

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1 OIE REGIONAL REPRESENTATION FOR THE MIDDLE EAST ACTIVITIES REPORT (2014) 1. INTRODUCTION The OIE Regional Representation for the Middle East (RR-ME), created in 1998, is based in Beirut, Lebanon, in premises provided by the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture. The primary objective of the RR-ME is the reinforcement of Veterinary Services capacities in the Middle East in order to control and manage animal diseases, notably transboundary ones. The RR-ME s objectives also include improving the animal disease information system, strengthening collaboration with regional and international organisations, holding conferences and seminars that will help to target specific issues related to animal and public health, and promoting the capacities and capabilities of regional laboratories and coordinating their activities. The major animal diseases in the region are: FMD, which is still one of the main constraints affecting livestock production in this part of the world and remains a significant drain on the budgets of the national Veterinary Services of each country (cost of surveillance plans and vaccination) and on the livelihoods of livestock owners across the region, peste des petits ruminants (PPR), in terms of public health, brucellosis (both Brucella abortus and B. melitensis) and rabies, regularly affecting a substantial number of humans. Due to the particularities of the Middle East in terms of animal imports, animal trade is a potential route for the introduction of exotic diseases into the region. One of the main risks in this respect concerns vector borne diseases such as Rift Valley Fever, Lumpy Skin Disease and Blue Tongue. Besides, specific activities are devoted to equine and camel diseases which require continuous attention in the coming years. 2. HUMAN RESOURCES The RR-ME has a staff composed of four veterinarians: the OIE Regional Representative, since August 2014, a veterinary technical assistant appointed by France, a mid-time veterinary officer charge de mission appointed by the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture. a veterinary consultant, who is also webmaster for the RR-ME website. The administrative staff is composed of a trilingual secretary, and three assistants. 3. GENERAL FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS The funding of the RR-ME depends on an annual voluntary contribution by the Lebanese government and 10% of the annual contribution to the OIE paid by Members in the region. However, in view of the fact that there are only 12 Members in the OIE Regional Commission for the Middle East and that most of these Members are not in the highest contribution categories, the part of regional Members contributions is not sufficient to cover the annual budget the RR-ME needs to implement its activities programme. Fortunately, most of the workshops, seminars and conferences organised by the RR-ME are sponsored, chiefly by the OIE World Animal Health and Welfare Fund and hosting countries. As much as possible, joint meetings are also organised with our regional partners, in particular the FAO.

2 4. REGIONAL COMMISSION ACTIVITIES The main objective of the OIE Regional Commission for the Middle East (RC-ME) is to tackle specific problems relevant to the Veterinary Services and establish cooperation at regional level to improve the quality of Veterinary Services in accordance with OIE standards. The RC-ME reports on its activities and submits recommendations to the World Assembly of Delegates. To achieve this goal the RC-ME is supported by the RR-ME. Through an active and efficient collaboration and thanks to a variety of relevant, common activities, the RC-ME and the RR-ME implement several programmes in order to strengthen the capacities of Veterinary Services to control and manage animal diseases, particularly those of a transboundary nature. The meeting of the Regional Commission in Paris on May 26, 2014 planned to organize the 13 th regional conference for the ME in Muscat, Oman on November Recommendations of the 12 th regional commission have been adopted by the General assembly of delegates. 5. TECHNICAL PROGRAMME REPORT The main activities of the RR-ME in 2014 were oriented towards implementing (1) recommendations made at previous meetings organised in the region, in particular the 12 th regional conference, and (2) OIE international standards. The objectives pursued within the framework of these activities were as follows: GOALS OBJECTIVES ACTIVITIES 1: Promotion of the OIE guidelines & standards 2: Strengthening the good governance of the veterinary services 3: Assistance 1.1: Harmonization of regulations for regional trade. 1.2: Improving animal disease information system 1.3: Lobbying for the establishment of epidemiological & risk analysis units 1.4: Veterinary education 2.1: Training of regional veterinary services staff, especially national focal points, to improve the level of advancement in their national activities 2.2: Information of newly appointed delegates on the OIE procedures 3.1: Assistance in national laboratories diagnostic capabilities Technical assistance to Jordan and Lebanon on updating legislation regarding trade and quarantine Presentation of the compartmentalisation concept to the Jordanian authorities Advice on the use of WAHIS (documentation available in Arabic) Proposal of terms of reference Follow-up of the twinning between Royal FMV college UK / JUST - Jordan Promotion of the OIE guidelines and the OIE twinning on Veterinary education (Abu Dhabi, September 2014) 2 focal points seminars on Animal production food safety (Abu Dhabi, January 2014) and on Animal welfare (Amman, March 2014). Training course on Diagnostic procedures for equine diseases (Palermo, April 2014). 2 trainings on Improved Animal welfare program cycle (Amman, winter 2014 and Muscat, summer 2014). Meeting in Paris, May Twinning like project between Italy/Lebanon on the strengthening of the Lebanese Veterinary Services.

3 to member countries 4: Specific regional concerns 5: Regional and international cooperation 6: Regional office management 3.2: Official dossiers support 4.1: Camels 4.2: Vector borne diseases 4.3: Equines 4.4: Animal welfare 5.1: cooperation with REMESA 5.2: Cooperation with FAO on TADs 5.3: GF TADs 6.1: Strengthening the regional communication Follow up of the twinning on Brucellosis (UAE/FLI Germany). Follow up of the twinning on bee diseases (Yemen/ ANSES France). Follow up of the twinning on RVF (Yemen / RSA) Follow up of dossiers: KSA on AHS. Egypt on equine diseases. Kuwait and Lebanon on Glanders (for the EU). Planning for the establishment of a regional camel diseases laboratories network (Abu Dhabi/Cairo, sub-regional conferences to be held in 2015). Follow-up of the Mers-CoV crisis (missions to Qatar and Oman, conference to be held in Doha on December 2014). Planning for a regional conference to be held in Doha in Regional conference on competition horse movement - HHP concept (Dubai, September 2014) Drafting proposal of an animal welfare regional strategy and endorsement by the regional commission. Support to the adhesion of Jordan and Lebanon, assistance in planning future activities. Joint conference on FMD and PPR (Amman, March 2014). Proposal of PPR regional strategy. Assistance on the regional FMD PCP pathway. Regional GF TADs steering committee meeting (Amman, March 2014) Improvement and updating of the RR-ME website. Translation of important documents to Arabic. The animal health situation in the region - FMD is one of the main constraints on animal production in the Middle East. To tackle this issue, the outlines for a relevant programme in support of the OIE/FAO strategy for the global control of FMD were reviewed during the 7 th GF TADs meeting in Amman, March 2014 and countries program evaluations vis a vis the PCP were adopted. - In 2014, the spread of Lumpy skin disease (LSD) in more countries of the region (Turkey, Iraq and Iran) necessited a special address of the disease which will be included in the agenda of the regional conference on the vector borne diseases (Doha, September 2015). - Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) is present in several parts of the region. It is important that countries at risk deploy control measures, such as precautions at the border, quarantine, movement control, reinforced vaccination, to contain /prevent the introduction of the disease. A consultative meeting on PPR was held in Amman in March 2014 leading to sensitize countries to develop national surveillance and control plans to be included in a regional strategy. Contacts with Members regarding OIE contributions GCC countries were officially asked to raise their contributions and to support the funding of the Regional Representation.

4 6. ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE RR IN 2014 Events organised by the RR in 2014 Capacity building January OIE Seminar for Focal Points on Animal Production Food Safety Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates March OIE Seminar for Focal Points on Animal Welfare and the Improved Animal Welfare programme Amman, Jordan April First FMD meeting in the ME Cairo, Egypt 29 September 1 October Events attended by the RR in 2014 Regional Conference for Middle East and North Africa on Facilitation of International Competition Horse Movement Capacity building January Training course on improved animal welfare Amman, Jordan IAWP - Phase February Training course on improved animal welfare Amman, Jordan IAWP - Phase April Equine diseases training course Palermo, Italy 24 May Seminar for new appointed OIE delegates Paris, France Dubai, United Arab Emirates Coordination meetings May Mers-CoV mission Doha, Qatar May FAO consultative meeting on MERS-CoV Muscat, Oman 3-4 November 9 th meeting of the JPC-REMESA Tunis, Tunisia 7-9 December Regional MERS-Co.V / One health Doha, Qatar workshop for animal and human health worker in GCC countries Representation of OIE at other events April FMD meeting (West Eurasia) Astana, Kazakhstan 8-10 October Expert Workshop on developing a Global PPR Control and Eradication Strategy Rome, Italy October Global OIE reference laboratories Seoul, Korea conference December FEI General Assembly Baku, Azerbaijan Meetings Visits to national authorities Date Country Outcomes January UAE Consultation for the organization of the Horse movement conference January Jordan Preparation of the OIE/FAO GF TADs Inter regional consultative meeting on FMD and PPR situation progress

5 30-31 March Oman Meeting with Minister of agriculture for the organization of the next regional conference in Muscat June UAE Preparation of the Horse movement conference September UAE Preparation of the Horse movement conference + Presentation of the OIE guidelines for Veterinary Education September Jordan Presentation of the Compartmentalisation concept Relevant OIE meetings Date Title January Lebanese delegation at the OIE Headquarter, Paris May OIE General Session, Paris 1-5 September Data analysis for the Horse movement conference, at the OIE Headquarter, Paris October RR/SRR Annual meeting at the OIE Headquarter, Paris 7. CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS 2014 was very active year for the work of both the regional commission and representation. The success of the different meetings held to discuss and plan actions for surveillance of major diseases shows the interest and involvement of member countries of the Middle East in the OIE programs and guidelines. The RR will benefit in the years to come of more support from regional countries for its activities, especially in issues addressing regional concerns such as: equine and camel diseases, vector borne diseases, strengthening of the national veterinary capacities. ==========================================================================