Audio By Carbonatix
New swarms of locusts are increasing the risk of food insecurity for millions of people in East and Central Africa who are already reeling from the impact of Covid-19 and flooding, humanitarian agency Oxfam has said in a new report.
Locust invasions in recent months are estimated to have destroyed thousands of hectares of crops in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia.
Heavy rains that have led to flooding have also created favourable conditions for the breeding of locusts.
The latest generation of swarms, feared to be as big as 400 times larger than the original swarms, are expected to hatch in June when crops are ready for harvest
East Africa’s Desert Locust Control Organisation has told the BBC that the coronavirus pandemic has hindered efforts to control the invasion as importing pesticide to the region has become expensive.
Last week the World Bank approved $160m (£130m) for Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda in the form of grants and low-interest loans to help farmers and herders impacted by the invasions.
Latest Stories
-
Ghana needs a law to sustain constitutional reforms – CDD-Ghana
2 hours -
COVID fumigation audit: Auditor-General has a lot of questions to answer – Akwatia MP
2 hours -
Stranded Ghanaian medical graduates in Cuba appeal to Mahama for immediate return
2 hours -
GNFS contains fire outbreak at Teshie Lekma Road near Lekma Hospital
8 hours -
Samia Nkrumah rejects the narrative that Ghanaians were happy after Nkrumah’s overthrow
10 hours -
A Mother’s pain: Tribute by Ivan Baidoo’s mother
10 hours -
‘Forgive us for staying away’ — Samia Nkrumah leads family back to Nkroful, pledges to preserve Nkrumah’s legacy
10 hours -
Ernest Nuamah scores twice as Lyon beat Rennes
10 hours -
‘My dear Ivan’ – A father’s tribute to a son tragically killed
10 hours -
GNPC Explorco advances Voltaian Basin drilling preparations with 13.5km access road
10 hours -
Cabinet approves facility manager for Borteyman Sports Complex – Kofi Adams
11 hours -
Sanitation is improving; critics may be ‘living in another world’ – Salaga South MP replies Bekwai MP
11 hours -
Government must do more to tackle sanitation crisis – Bekwai MP
11 hours -
World Cleanup Day: GFF begins sanitation education in local communities
12 hours -
EU Ambassador, IGP discuss stronger cooperation on policing and security
12 hours