Beginning in 2019, nine countries in East Africa, including eastern Ethiopia, have been affected by a crisis of locust infestations due to heavy rains in the region. It is the worst infestation the region has had in 25 years. The area in Ethiopia that is most affected by the locusts are northeast and east of our project. Unfortunately, the closest area affected is about 60 miles east of the BEAUTC project in Woliso, but appears to be headed in the other direction away from there. Since January 2020, the government of Ethiopia has been deploying helicopters to spray swarms in affected areas to help alleviate crop devastation and food insecurity in the country. Emergency aid has also been distributed to those affected by the locust swarms. There is concern that eastern Ethiopia will continue to be affected by locust swarms until March 2021. Our project leaders are keeping a careful watch on this crisis.
Sources:
Desert Locust situation update 2 November 2020.
East Africa – Desert Locust Crisis, Fact Sheet #7, Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 – Ethiopia. ReliefWeb.
Ethiopia Steps Up Aerial Spraying To Stop New Desert Locust Invasion | Voice of America – English.
Ethiopia struggles to suppress desert locust infestation.
Reuters, S. by. Locust swarms spread across Ethiopia aided by heavy rains and Covid pandemic. CNN.