Locusts Ravage Northern Somalia

An infestation of locusts has devastated the northern Puntland region of Somalia. The livelihood of many farmers has been drastically affected by these powerful pests.

Puntland, the self-proclaimed autonomous region of northern Somalia, has avoided much of the violence and anarchy that has enveloped the south over the past 16 years. Hunger has been the most critical issue affecting this part of the Horn of Africa and food problems may get even worse as crops are now being devoured by swarms of locusts.

In some cases, the scale of the plague has been so immense that witnesses say locusts have blotted out the sun and sky. In Puntland, millions of the ravenous insects have stripped bare hundreds of acres of mango, orange and pawpaw orchards. Some families sell fruit and vegetable as their sole means of income but these pests have now rendered people dumbfounded and powerless.

The price of some produce has quickly doubled and some locals fear they may soon have to do without fruit altogether. Many defenseless farmers report that their farms and orchards have been destroyed as locusts continue to ravage new harvests, "eating anything that is green."

These particular locusts, known in the region as Luga Case or "red legs," are the most destructive of the genus and have not been seen in the area in over 20 years. The United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) have been consulted by the Desert Locust Control Organization for Eastern Africa but, presently, there appears to be no pesticide to combat the insect. A sample of the menace has been sent abroad in order to determine which chemical can be used to prevent further damage.

The FAO has also reported other outbreaks in Eritrea, Sudan, Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

[Using information from Reuters and the United Nations Integrated Regional Information Networks.]