Locust plague threatens the livelihoods of 39 million people

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A renewed plague of locusts in the Horn of Africa threatens the region, according to Welthungerhilfe with a downward spiral through hunger and poverty. As a new generation of pests breed and hatch, the next harvest is threatened in countries such as Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya, the aid organization said on Tuesday.

Citing the UN Agriculture and Food Organization (FAO), Welthungerhilfe warns that the next generation of locusts is threatening the livelihoods of more than 39 million people in Ethiopia, Yemen, Somalia, Sudan and Kenya.

In recent months, the locusts in the Horn of Africa have already been fought on 1.3 million hectares of land. But in northern and central Kenya alone, more than 15 districts are already massively affected by the second wave of locusts, including many new areas. The food situation of around 1.9 million people had already been “precarious” before, but now it could worsen dramatically, warned Welthungerhilfe.

The locust plague also exacerbated the conflicts over water and land, explained the country director of Welthungerhilfe in Kenya, Kelvin Shingles. His organization supports those affected with cash, new seeds, agricultural advice and training in order to better control the continued multiplication of the locusts even by using environmentally friendly methods.