Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia are dealing with desert locust swarms of 鈥渦nprecedented size and destructive potential鈥� that could spill over into more countries in East Africa, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)聽warned聽on Monday.
Destroying hundreds of thousands of acres of crops, the outbreak is impacting the region鈥檚 food insecurity.
The UN agency urged for a collective campaign to deal with the crisis, concerned over the risk that the swarms spill over into more countries in East Africa, 鈥渋f efforts to deal with the voracious pest are not scaled up across the region鈥�.聽
Moreover, unusual climate conditions have favoured rapid locust reproduction.
The agency stressed that as favourable breeding conditions continue, the increase in locust swarms could last until June. And left unchecked, the numbers of crop-devouring insects could grow 500 fold by then.
Facing an unprecedented threat
Kenya has not faced a locust threat of this magnitude in 70 years,聽听飞补谤苍别诲.
The outbreak of desert locusts, considered the most dangerous locust species, has also affected parts of Somalia and Ethiopia, the likes of聽 which have not been seen on this scale in 25 years.
South Sudan and Uganda are not currently affected, but are at risk, FAO added.
In a press release issued on Monday, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said the agency is activating fast-track mechanisms to support governments, warning that the situation is now of 鈥渋nternational dimensions鈥�. 聽
"Authorities in the region have already jump-started control activities, but in view of the scale and urgency of the threat, additional financial backing from the international donor community is needed so they can access the tools and resources required to get the job done," Mr. Qu said.
- Locusts are the oldest migratory pest in the world. They differ from ordinary grasshoppers in their ability to gregarize, or change behaviour, and form swarms that can migrate over large distances.
- The most devastating of all locust species is the聽Desert Locust. During plagues, it can easily affect 20 percent of the Earth's land, more than 65 of the world's poorest countries, and potentially damage the livelihood of one tenth of the world's population.
- Learn more聽.
Swarms potentially containing hundreds of millions of individual desert locusts can move 150 kilometres a day 鈥� devastating rural livelihoods. According to the UN agency, 鈥済iven the scale of the current swarms, aerial control is the only effective means to reduce the locust numbers鈥�.
聽is assisting with forecasts, early warning and alerts on the timing, scale and location of invasions and breeding.
Mr. Qu also warned the response must include efforts to restore people鈥檚 livelihoods."Communities in Eastern Africa have already been impacted by extended droughts, which have eroded their capacities to grow food and make a living. We need to help them get back on their feet, once the locusts are gone," FAO鈥檚 Director General said.
The UN is seeking $70 million to urgently support both pest control and livelihood protection operations in the three most affected countries.
Southwest Asia and Red Sea area also affected
In addition, numerous desert locust swarms have been breeding in India, Iran and Pakistan since June 2019. And some have migrated to southern Iran where recent heavy rains have nurtured a breeding ground that could generate swarms in the spring.
Egypt, Eritrea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen are also seeing substantial breeding activity that could see locust bands expand into swarms in the coming months,聽听补诲诲别诲.
The agency concluded that it stands ready to leverage its expertise and facilitate a coordinated response.
