Somalia Declares the Locust Plague an Emergency and Appeals for Funding

The federal government of Somalia says the ongoing locust attack is the worst in the last 25 years. Furthermore, it says the plague threatens the country’s worsening food situation.

Djibouti, Sudan, and Eritrea are the breeding grounds for the swarms of locusts. The insects have also spread to the neighboring countries of Ethiopia and Kenya.

They have destroyed large swathes of pastureland and farmland in the region.

Somalia says it needs help containing them before they leave untold damages behind.

The country says its data collection, surveillance, reporting, and control systems are inadequate. It can’t handle the problem alone.

The agriculture ministry says Somalia needs help to stop the invasion before the cropping season starts.