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Greater Horn of Africa continues to be threatened by desert locusts

A man beats a bush with a stick to show desert locusts swarming near Fada, Chad. Credit: FAO/Carl de Souza

Desert locusts continue to pose a major threat to food security and livelihoods in the Greater Horn of Africa as more swarms form and mature in northern and central Kenya, southern Ethiopia and probably in Somalia, coinciding with the beginning of the long rains and the planting season.

In May, the eggs will hatch into hopper bands that will form new swarms in late June and July, when the harvest starts. Recent heavy rains are also likely to enable a new generation of breeding throughout Somalia, in northern Kenya and in southern Ethiopia, leading to an exponential increase in the desert locust population.

Ground and aerial control operations, including the treatment of more than 200,000 hectares in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, continue with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN.  

Beyond control operations, early action is required to meet the immediate needs of affected communities and protect their livelihoods.

As of 16 April, US$116.3 million had been pledged toward the FAO locust appeal, which seeks $153 million to support the response in 10 countries.

If the swarms are not contained, impacts on crops and forage will drive up hunger in areas already facing very high levels of food insecurity. More than 25 million people in the affected countries in the Greater Horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Sudan and Uganda) are already facing severe food insecurity. 

While Governments are taking timely measures to halt the spread of COVID-19, including movement restrictions, it is critical that they facilitate and fast-track customs procedures and the seamless movement of items and critical personnel to enable the timely and effective control of the locust upsurge in the region.