Africas locust crisis: UN calls for urgent action

Issued on: 11/02/2020 – 17:39Modified: 11/02/2020 – 17:39

The UN on Monday called for urgent action to avoid a major humanitarian crisis as billions of locusts destroy crops across East Africa in the biggest outbreak the region has seen in decades.

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The locusts have plagued a number of countries since the start of the year, including Somalia, Ethiopia, Yemen and Kenya, and crossed the border into Uganda over the weekend. South Sudan and Tanzania could also soon be under threat from the vast swarms.

“It's time for the international community to understand that it's an issue that needs to be dealt with now. Otherwise, it will turn into a situation of a plague,” said Dominique Burgeon, director of the UN Food and Agricultural Organisations emergencies and rehabilitation division.

“There will be high levels of acute food insecurity, there will be millions more people that will require food assistance and it will take Read More – Source

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