Somaliland: UN Warns of Locusts
Below is an article published by afrol News:
"There have been several new developments in the past few days in three key areas," UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said, noting that the second-generation infestations from an outbreak in Eritrea in December are now concentrating in a 60 kilometres by 60 kilometres area on the Red Sea coast straddling the Sudanese-Eritrean border.
Late instar hopper bands and newly fledged adults are present in pearl millet crops in wadis - dry river beds - and in natural vegetation on the coastal plains. "Within a week, the majority of these populations will become adults and form small immature swarms," FAO warns.
As vegetation is drying out on the Red Sea coast, the swarms were likely to move further north along the coast in
Ground control operations were in progress in both countries and were to be supplemented by aerial operations, expected to start this week, "to try to reduce the scale of the expected migration," according to FAO.
As a result of good rainfall and breeding during the past few months, small hopper bands are also present in the Silil area in the Awdal region of Somaliland near
According to FAO, "a few small immature swarms have already formed and more are expected in the coming weeks." The UN agency especially sees
"These swarms could move in any direction – up the escarpment towards the Ethiopian border, northwest towards the Eritrean highlands, east along the coast, across the Gulf of Aden to southern Yemen, or simply stay on the coast and eventually breed once the long rains commence," FAO added.
"Vigilance is critical, particularly on the