UN Warns That Eastern Africa Is Heading Towards A Locust ‘Catastrophe’

Daily Mail: Africa is heading towards a locust ‘catastrophe’ if 40-mile-wide swarm grows 500 times BIGGER within next four months as feared, UN warns

* Rainfall expected in the coming weeks will trigger plant growth, providing food for the locusts in the area
* They were reported crossing over the Karamoja border region into Uganda's northeastern area yesterday
* Swarm is considered the worst outbreak to hit Kenya for 70 years and Somalia for 25 years according to UN
* Horde of 360 billion insects is laying waste to farmland across the Horn of Africa and Kenya
* Next generation of locusts is expected to swarm in April after hatching in February, exacerbating the crisis

Africa is heading towards a locust 'catastrophe' if the 40-mile-wide swarm grows 500 times bigger within the next four months as feared, the UN has warned.

The 360 billion locusts are expected to rapidly expand in numbers in the coming weeks, when forecast rainfall triggers plant growth, before their numbers peak in June.

The desert locusts have already decimated vital crops in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya, and damaged farmland in Djibouti and Eritrea before they flew into Uganda and Tanzania this weekend.

One of the swarms - which can number up to 80 million individuals per square kilometre - was also spotted flying 50km from the border with South Sudan, and is expected to reach the country 'any day'.

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More News On Eastern Africa's Locust Invasion

Africa locust invasion spreading, may become ‘most devastating plague’ in living memory, UN warns -- FOX News
UN warns of potential 'catastrophe' for Africa if locust outbreak not contained -- CBC/AP
'Catastrophe': Huge locust swarm triggers dire warning amid biggest outbreak for decades in East Africa -- The Independent
Food fears grow as swarms of locusts reach Uganda and Tanzania -- The Guardian
Act now to prevent Desert Locust catastrophe in Horn of Africa: UN agencies -- UN News
Locusts swarm into northern Uganda as Oxfam looks toward a $5m humanitarian response across region -- Relief Web