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”.
There are fears that the situation may not be brought under control before the harvest begins in April.
The UN says the swarms are the largest in Somalia and Ethiopia in 25 years.
Meanwhile, neighbouring Kenya has not seen a locust threat as severe in 70 years, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
However, Somalia is the first country in the region to declare an emergency over the infestation.
Somalia’s unstable security situation means that planes cannot be used to spray insecticide from the air.
– How East Africa is battling devastating locust swarms
In January, the FAO called for international help in fighting the swarms in the Horn of Africa, warning that locust numbers across the region could grow 500 times by June.
The swarms spread into east Africa from Yemen across the Red Sea, after heavy rainfall in late 2019 created ideal conditions for the insects to flourish.
Locusts can travel up to 150km (93 miles) in a day. Each adult insect can eat its own weight in food daily.
In December, a locust swarm forced a passenger plane off course in Ethiopia. Insects smashed into the engines, windshield and nose, but the aircraft was able to land safely in the capital, Addis Ababa.
Latest Stories
- Sniffing body odour is tested as an anxiety therapy
3 hours - Israel defence minister fired in legal reform row
3 hours - Strike brings Germany’s public transport network to halt
3 hours - Tunisia migrants: At least 29 die off coast
4 hours - GAA, GES & NSA set to host National Athletics Championship in Kumasi
4 hours - betPawa PL: Hearts of Oak lose on the road; Medeama beat Kotoko
5 hours - Antonio Conte leaves Tottenham Hotspur by mutual consent
5 hours - Playback: The Probe discusses the relevance of a hung Parliament
7 hours - Upper West Akim MP organises ‘Adom Easter Gala’ competition for constituents
8 hours - Prophet urges members not to bring offertory to church
9 hours - Samson’s Take: Ashaiman, state-sponsored terrorism against rule of law II
9 hours - Photos of Kamala Harris visit to Ghana
10 hours - Climate crisis, empowerment, entrepreneurship, high on Kamala Harris’ agenda for Africa visit
10 hours - Kwame Dadzie: Scrap MUSIGA rule that bars ‘ordinary members’ from running for President
11 hours - What an honour it is to be here in Ghana – Kamala Harris
11 hours