Somalia’s agriculture ministry on Sunday called the outbreak of locusts a national emergency and a major threat to the country’s fragile food security situation, saying the “uncommonly large” locust swarms were consuming huge amounts of crops.
“The Ministry of Agriculture… has declared a national emergency in view of the current desert locust upsurge, that poses a major threat to Somalia’s fragile food security situation,” the ministry statement read.
Experts say the locust swarms are the result of extreme weather swings, and Somalia’s declaration – the first country in the region to do so – is aimed at boosting national efforts in tackling the hungry insects.
T
