East Africa: Concerns over the resurgence of desert locusts in the Horn of Africa, reports the United Nations Agency

The desert locust crisis, which hit the greater Horn of Africa region earlier this year, may escalate again as recent strong winds have carried small, ripe yellow swarms from southern Somalia to eastern and northern Kenya. eastern, said the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). .

Although some of the swarms that reached Kenya may have already spawned prior to their arrival, the risk remains of further spawning in sandy areas that have seen recent rains, according to FAO.

“In this case, the hatching and formation of hopper bands can be expected in early December,” the agency said.

Breeding also continues in central Somalia and eastern Ethiopia, where there are bands of hoppers – non-flying nymphal locusts – and a new generation of immature swarms could start forming by the end of November.

Swarming is expected to continue throughout December due to widespread hatching and banding in mid-November. From the second week of December, several waves of numerous swarms are expected to move south into Somalia and Ethiopia, reaching northern Kenya, FAO added.

A resurgence of swarms could aggravate food security in the region, where nearly 25 million people already suffer from severe and acute food insecurity. Desert locusts are considered to be the most destructive migratory pest in the world, devouring vast areas of crops and grasses destined for people and livestock.

Increase the response

FAO is supporting authorities in Somalia in stepping up anti-locust measures, focusing on high-risk areas.

“The detection and control operations, by land and by air, have been expanded and are ongoing,” said Etienne Peterschmitt, FAO Representative in Somalia.

“These resources include planes, vehicles, equipment, biopesticides, insect growth regulators and personnel that have been strategically placed in various parts of the country,” he added.

In addition to measures to reduce farming and swarms, FAO and its partners are also supporting farmers in the affected areas. The supplies have been delivered and pre-positioned to assist food-insecure families who are at risk of locust invasion, including planting and replanting packages, supplemental feed and integrated monetary assistance and livelihood support.

Regional situation

According to FAO, response efforts are also underway in Eritrea, Sudan and southeastern Egypt, as teams continue ground and air control operations against hopper groups and adults.

Across the Red Sea, strong southerly winds in mid-November caused immature swarms to move from within Yemen to southwestern Saudi Arabia and into northern Riyadh. Some of these swarms could continue further north towards Iraq in the coming days until the southerly winds subside, FAO said.