Somalia declares state of emergency in response to locusts

Text by: RFI Follow

It is the first country in the region to do so. Somalia declares "national emergency" in the face of the invasion of locusts, which currently affects the Horn of Africa. Millions of these insects, capable of traveling 150 km per day, have descended on Kenya, threatening crops and food security. Somalia and Ethiopia had not seen swarms of this magnitude in 25 years.

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Locusts threaten " the fragile food security situation in Somalia, " said the Minister of Agriculture in his statement. Researchers believe that the current invasion, of a scale not seen in years, is caused by climatic variations in East Africa, which have also caused droughts and floods, reports our correspondent in Nairobi, Charlotte Simonart .

These are huge dark clouds that have been moving in the sky for more than two months. Clouds formed by swarms of locusts. There are millions of them and travel up to 150 kilometers a day in search of plants. Each of them ingests 2 grams daily. These insects also consume fodder and therefore threaten the food sources of people, but also of their livestock, specify the Somali authorities.

By taking this national emergency measure, the government wants to concentrate efforts to contain these swarms before the harvests, scheduled for April.

Ethiopia and Kenya are also affected. In Kenya, locusts are now moving towards the Rift Valley, one of the region's granaries. The United Nations calls for international mobilization to stem the spread of these locusts.

An exceptional invasion due to the heavy rains of recent weeks, unexpected at this time of year usually the dry season. The moist soil favors the reproduction of locusts, up to 300 eggs per female. At this rate, the swarms may soon reach Uganda and South Sudan.

Meeting of regional ministers

Ministers from the Horn of Africa countries plan to meet next Friday to discuss the issue together. Somali Minister of Agriculture Said Hussein Iid explains that " the level of preparedness in the country and in the region is minimal, because we have not seen as many locusts in 25 years, so we were a bit taken short. "

It was necessary to declare this invasion as a national emergency, because " these insects represent a real danger ", he believes. “ The locusts always attack crops. The rainy season is coming, and it coincides with the staple crops, maize and sorghum. "

The minister does not hide his concern. “ We are concerned that locusts are ravaging large parts of our fields. And that would have very strong consequences on the food security of our country, which is already in a fragile situation. "

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