Somalia has declared a national emergency as large swarms of locusts spread across east Africa.
The country’s Ministry of Agriculture said the insects, which consume large amounts of vegetation, posed “a major threat to Somalia’s fragile food security situation”
“Agriculture Ministry of the Federal Republic of Somalia declares state of emergency over locust invasion in Somalia, particularly southern regions,” state-run broadcaster Somali National Television (SNTV) said on its official Twitter account.
According to OCHA, new swarms of desert locusts crossed from Hiraan region to Middle Shabelle devastating pasture and farms.
In Bari region, Puntland, where Cyclone Gati led to crop, livestock and property losses in November, a renewed locust infestation has been reported. Across Somalia, the desert locusts have affected almost 700,000 people and close to 300,000 hectares of land.
The agency said as of November, more than 110,000 hacteres of land have been sprayed with biopesticides, saving 193,000metric tonnes of cereals and productive assets for almost 90,000 households.
