Swarms of food-devouring desert locusts threaten food security for nearly 10 million people in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, said the Food Security and Nutrition Working Group on Monday, describing the infestations as the worst in 25 years in Ethiopia and in 70 years in Kenya. The group, which focuses on central and eastern Africa, said the locust upsurge threatens the coming agricultural season.
“Desert locusts have already reached northern Uganda,” the group said. Looking forward, it said the infestation could spread further into the Rift Valley (especially in Ethiopia), as well as to South Sudan; affect the 2020 staple cropping seasons; and continue to affect rangeland across the region.
“Under a most-likely scenario, the food security impacts will be significant for affected households in areas where swarms pass through and cause damages, with the greatest food security impacts felt by households reliant on cropping activities who are already facing food insecurity due to their existing high vulnerability and the effects of expected crop losses. Pasture losses are also expected in areas where swarms land, though expected above-average to average rainfall over the coming months is likely to partially offset the impacts.”
The World Food Program appealed for donations to pay for aerial spraying of pesticides to kill the locusts, considered the world’s most dangerous migratory pest. The Food and Agriculture Organization has raised $22 million of the $76 million for a comprehensive response to the locusts. Besides in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, swarms were reported in Eritrea, Djibouti and northeastern Uganda.
“FAO needs $76 million to help stop the locusts,” said WFP director David Beasley. “Do nothing now and WFP will need up to 15 times that amount – more than $1 billion – to assist people devastated by losing crops and livelihoods.”