East Africa And West Asia Conitnue to Combat Surging Locust Outbreak

A desert locust swarm flies in Kipsing, Kenya, in March 2020.Sven Torfinn / FAO

NBC: A plague amid a pandemic: East Africa, West Asia combat surging locust outbreak

The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization estimates 450 billion pests have been killed since January, but the battle against the massive, crop-destroying swarms is far from over.

When the skies darkened suddenly over Michael Gatiba's 10-acre farm in Nakuru County, Kenya, what came pouring down stunned him: millions of desert locusts.

"It was like a storm," Gatiba, 45, said by telephone. "It was like hail. They covered everywhere. Even there was no sun."

That was three months ago. Although Gatiba said he was lucky that the damage from the insects was minimal, he fears that the outbreak that has plagued swaths of Africa, the Middle East and Asia for the past two years will return to ravage his maize and bean crops.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: I have been told by some readers in east Africa that the videos do not do justice to how incredible these swarms really are.

Massive Locusts Swarms That Have Destroyed Crops In Eastern Africa And The Middle East Have Entered India

India Today: Worst attack in 27 years: Swarms of locusts destroy crops in several states

Locust swarms entered India from Pakistan and have made their way into Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.

* Several states in India are reeling under locust attack
* Swarms of locusts are destroying crops across states
* Affected states are Rajasthan, MP, Gujarat, UP and Maharashtra are under locust attack

Swarms of the desert locust, which invaded India via Pakistan in April, have made their way to at least five states, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Desert locust move in large groups, called swarms, and can eat crops up to their own weight every day. When millions of locusts descend on a crop, they destroy everything.

The desert locust is considered the most destructive migratory pest in the world and a single swarm covering one square kilometre can contain up to 80 million locusts. As per eyewitnesses, the swarm which entered India from Pakistan was about two to three kilometres long.

In December 2019, when the parts of Gujarat were invaded by locust, they had destroyed crops spread over 25,000 hectares of land. This time, the attack is more widespread.

Read more ....

More News On The Locust Invasion Of India

India gears up for a new crisis - voracious desert locusts that may cause food shortages -- Straits Times
India faces worst locust swarm attack in decades: What does it mean for agri economy? -- Business Today
‘We’re doomed!’: Terrifying scenes as massive LOCUST swarm invades Indian city (VIDEO) -- Rt
Locust Swarms Are Here, How Much Damage They Can Cause: 10 Facts -- NDTV

East Africa Facing A 'Triple Threat' From Covid-19 Coronavirus, Floods And Locusts

Daily Mail: Locusts, Covid-19 and flooding pose a 'triple threat' to millions across East Africa, UN warns

* A mammoth new swarm of the insects is on the most in East Africa, officials said
* The invasion could wipe out 100 per cent of crop production across the region
* Coronavirus lockdowns and flooding have stalled efforts to combat the locusts

Millions of people in East Africa face a 'triple threat' of locusts, coronavirus, and deadly flooding, officials have warned.

A mammoth new swarm of the insects, numbering in the billions, is on the move in East Africa, where some countries haven't seen such an outbreak in 70 years.

UN officials have warned a plague of the insects could be experienced by the end of the year.

The impending invasion is estimated to be 20 times larger than the first and threatens to wipe out thousands of acres of crops before they are harvested.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The Middle East is also facing the same disaster .... Middle East Is Being Battered By Huge Locust Plague Proving 2020 Isn't Done Yet.

More News On East Africa Facing A 'Triple Threat' From Covid-19 Coronavirus, Floods And Locusts

The 'triple threat' putting millions at risk in region hard hit by coronavirus -- AP
East Africa fears 'triple threat' from coronavirus, floods and locusts -- FOX News
Swarms of hungry locusts bring potential for famine during coronavirus -- Global News
World Bank approves record $500 million to battle locust swarms -- Reuters

Iran Deploys Military To Battle Locust Invasion

The Iranian agriculture ministry has called on the military to help fight locusts that have invaded the south of the country, threatening to destroy crops.

ABC News Online: Iran brings in military to battle locusts threatening crops worth billions

Iran has called in its military to help fight locusts that have invaded the south of the country, threatening to destroy crops worth billions of dollars, according to Iranian media reports.

The locust invasion, seen as the worst in decades, compounds problems facing Iran, already hard-hit by the coronavirus outbreak at home and seeing its oil exports sink to a record low as the crisis sharpens the impact of US sanctions, which further limit shipments.

Mohammad Reza Mir, a spokesman for the ministry's Plant Protection Organization (PPO), said the desert locusts had attacked more than 200,000 hectares of orchards and farmland in seven of Iran's 31 provinces, the semi-official news agency ILNA reported.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The locusts are going to win.

More News On Iran Deploying The Military To Battle A Locust Invasion

Military to help battle locusts in Iran -- Tehran Times
Iranian Military May Battle Locust Invasion -- Radio Free Europe
Iran's army to help battle locust swarms in south -- Xinhua
Iran may use military against locusts threatening crops -- Reuters
A Second Wave Of Locust Invasion Hits Iran Hard -- Radio Farda

Trillions Of Locusts Descend On East Africa In A Second Wave

WNU Editor: Here is an excellent report on the locust invasion in east Africa .... They're back: Trillions of locusts descend on East Africa in in second wave (Washington Post).

Africa Now Bracing For A Second Wave Of Locusts Said To Be 20 Times Worse

The desert locusts, some in swarms the size of Moscow, have already chomped their way through much of East Africa, including Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya (pictured), Djibouti, Eritrea, Tanzania, Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda

Daily Mail/AFP: Huge swarms of locusts rip through 500,000 acres of crops in Ethiopia leaving a million facing food crisis as Africa braces for another destructive plague

* A United Nations report found millions of citizens in need of emergency food aid
* Africa is braced for a second wave which could be 20 times more than the first
* Breeding has been spurred by one of the wettest rainy seasons in the region

Billions of locusts have laid waste to 500,000 acres of Ethiopian cropland and unleashed a food crisis.

A United Nations report found that the devastation caused by the swarms have left millions of citizens in need of emergency food aid.

The findings from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, which recently concluded a joint assessment with the Ethiopian government, come as the region is bracing for new swarms that could be even more destructive.

This second wave of pests to spawn in Africa could to be 20 times larger than the first - which was already the worst in 70 years in some nations.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Talk about a "perfect storm". A pandemic that is starting to spread throughout Africa followed by a second massive invasion of locusts .... Second wave of locusts in east Africa said to be 20 times worse (The Guardian).

A Second Larger Swarm Of Locusts Are Anticipated To Return To Eastern Africa

Forbes: East Africa Braces For A Locust Outbreak Possibly 20 Times Worse Than The First (Photos)

Topline: East Africa is anticipating a second, larger wave of the worst locust outbreak seen in seven decades, as the swarms of billions of insects threaten food security in the already vulnerable region—and exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, as closed borders make supplies harder to access.

* The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization said the swarm of locusts present “an extremely alarming and unprecedented threat” to food security and livelihoods—according to the UN, a locust swarm of just more than a third of a square mile can eat the same amount of food in a single day as 35,000 people.
* A second wave is approaching, experts say, and may be 20 times larger than the initial locust attack.
* Kenyan officials told AP that coronavirus crackdowns have slowed efforts to fight the infestation, as crossing borders has become more difficult and the delivery of necessary pesticides has been held up and aerial spraying is the only effective means of controlling locusts.

Read more ....

More News On A Second Larger Swarm Of Locusts Returning To Eastern Africa

Billions of locusts ravage East Africa, and coronavirus has made them harder to stop -- USA Today/AP
'Unprecedented threat': New locust outbreak threatens millions in eastern Africa -- Washington Examiner
Uganda faces food shortage as coronavirus disrupts locust fight -- Al Jazeera
Fast-Growing Locust Plague Could Crush East Africa by June as Numbers Set to Surge 400-Fold -- Sputnik
Billions of locusts pose ‘unprecedented threat’ to millions in Africa -- NY Daily News
Two new generations of locusts are set to descend on East Africa again—400 times stronger -- Quartz
African Locust Outbreak Returns; Second Wave Approximately 20 Times Larger -- Zero Hedge

UN Warns Of Famine Caused By Locusts Swarms In Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania And Somalia

Newsweek: Locust Swarms as Big as Cities are Causing a Crisis in Africa as Experts Warn They Could Get 400 Times Bigger

Parts of Africa are currently facing the worst locust swarms in more than a generation, with swarms the size of cities sweeping across countries including Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia. The largest swarm recorded so far has been 37 miles long and 25 miles wide.

Earlier this week, the United Nations issued a statement saying it is the most severe infestation Kenya has seen in 70 years.

Desert locusts are one of the oldest and most destructive pests on the planet, traveling up to 93 miles and eating the equivalent of their own weight in fresh food every day.

These insects can form incredibly dense swarms, each containing between 40 to 80 million individual locusts per square kilometer, or 0.4 square miles. A 40 million insect swarm can consume the same amount as 35,000 people, consuming almost all the green vegetation they pass.

Read more ....

More News On UN Warnings Of Famine In Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania And Somalia

Locusts threaten to rob millions in already-vulnerable East Africa of food -- CBS/AP
Locust swarm: UN warns of famine in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Somalia -- BBC
Huge swarm of locusts causes devastation in east Africa – as Jamal Osman reports from Kenya -- Channel 4 News
UN warns of humanitarian disaster if locust swarms aren't stopped -- Euronews

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'.

Read more ....

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