The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned of an impending food crisis in the Horn of Africa region. It says countries in the region should brace themselves for food insecurity, as a result of the ongoing locust invasion.
According to FAO and other experts on food security, the invasion is the worst in the region over the last 70 years. Many farmers have suffered huge losses. However, FAO says the situation is far from improving.
A second wave of the invasion has emerged. Countries likely to be affected include South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Somalia, and Ethiopia. International agencies have stepped up their efforts aimed at reducing the impact of the infestation.
Many institutes are playing their part by spraying huge volumes of pesticides in the region. Experts believe this is dangerous since poison from the pesticides can seep into the human food chain, thus worsening the situation further.
According to climate experts, a strong cyclone that started off in Somalia in December 2019 is to blame for the outbreak and continued spread of locusts in the region. With the outbreak, a swarm sitting in 1km2 of land can consume as much food as 35,000 people in a day.