'Worst locust invasion in 70 years' threatens countries in eastern Africa
The insects could impact the livelihood of many more people and destroy food crops, with South Sudan, Uganda and Eritea at risk.
Monday 3 February 2020 15:22, UK
Swarms of locusts are spreading across eastern Africa and could ravage more countries, the UN has warned.
Somalia has declared a national emergency over the crisis - and now the United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) thinks livelihoods and food supplies across the region are under threat.
The swarms were first spotted in December and have already destroyed thousands of hectares of farmland in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia. It is the worst locust invasion in 70 years.
According to the FAO, other countries are at risk - especially South Sudan, Uganda and Eritea.
At least one locust swarm has already been seen in Eritrea, while several had been sighted in Oman and Yemen.
Some 11 million people in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya are already experiencing food insecurity and the swarms will worsen the situation, the FAO added.
"Therefore, we need to make all possible efforts to avoid such a deterioration," said Dominique Burgeon, director of the FAO emergencies and rehabilitation division.
Mr Burgeon, speaking during a visit to Samburu and Kitui counties, two of 15 affected regions in Kenya, added that the locusts can cause "massive devastation" in terms of crops and pasture.
This means it could affect the livelihoods of the pastoralist communities.
"The only solution that works is aerial spraying [of pesticides]," he added.
Due to conflict and chaos in much of Somalia, spraying pesticide by plane is impossible, according to the agency.
The country's agriculture and irrigation ministry said it had declared the locust invasion a national emergency.
One farmer in Mwingi, in eastern Kenya's Kitui County, said she was worried the locusts would destroy their crops.
Esher Kithuka added that another growing season due to start in April would be too short for any meaningful production.
She said: "We depend a lot on this season and we worry that the locusts will destroy our harvest and we will end up remaining hungry through the rest of the year waiting for October for the next cropping season."