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Desert Locusts in Eastern Africa

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Desert Locusts in Eastern Africa FACTS & FIGURES 9 countries affected in Greater Horn of Africa: Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, and Kenya worst affected 30.5 million people already severely food insecure in the region EU humanitarian funding: • €66 million allocated by the EU for Desert Locust related response (€41 million from EU humanitarian aid, €25 million from EU development aid) in 2020 • €8 million to support desert locusts’ surveillance and control operations in Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and Sudan in 2021 ©FAO/Sven Torfinn Last updated 28/06/2021 European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations Desert locusts in Eastern Africa Introduction Since 2019, Eastern Africa has seen an upsurge of desert locusts, spreading across several countries at rates not seen in decades. At the end of 2020, the situation was still critical in the whole region. Thanks to major control efforts, the pest seems almost eradicated in Kenya and Sudan in 2021. However, populations of desert locust have been identified breeding in several areas in eastern Ethiopia and northern Somalia. This is due to the favourable conditions created by the short rainy season at the end of 2020 and early this year. New generations of hoppers are expected to move by the end of June 2021 towards north-eastern Somalia and northern areas of Ethiopia, threatening the harvest season and pasture areas. It is also necessary to monitor swarms that could come from Yemen, where the Desert Locust population remains high. With over 30 million people already severely food insecure in the region, the locust upsurge is an additional threat to food security. What are the needs? The food security situation could deteriorate further due to the impact of the multiple threats the region faces: (i) conflict, (ii) desert locusts, (iii) natural hazards caused by climate change (floods and droughts), (iv) economic crisis, and (v) the effects of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Despite ongoing efforts to curb the spread, including through early funding from the EU, the risk remains very high, threatening again livelihoods particularly for the most vulnerable. The risk of new infestations and continuous breeding could limit food and fodder availability. The likelihood of an impact on vulnerable households will remain high due to rising food prices. As herders might be forced to move to other areas, the risk of communal conflict over pasture, grazing land and rangeland will also increase. The situation is further aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in widespread loss of income and worsened economic situations. The pandemic and its effects will also worsen the situation of the various countries as current humanitarian responses might be hampered, slowed down, or adapted. Needs will increase, particularly for the health sector but also for other sectors such as water, sanitation and hygiene and, due to the economic impacts, food and nutrition. Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid How are we helping? To respond to these new humanitarian needs in the Greater Horn of Africa region, the European Commission allocated €66 million in 2020. This funding targeted Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, Djibouti and Eritrea. This includes €41 million from EU humanitarian aid, shared among 5 countries in the region (Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan). In April 2021, the EU announced a further allocation to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) regional appeal of €8 million. The funding will support FAO surveillance and control operations in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Sudan. The focus of the EU response is on control and surveillance measures, food assistance and livelihood support for vulnerable populations. European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations - B-1049 Brussels, Belgium - E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://ec.europa.eu/echo - Facebook: @ec.humanitarian.aid - Twitter: @eu_echo - Instagram: @eu_echo.
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