FAO warns against massive invasion of locusts in northwest Africa

The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned on Tuesday that northwest Africa was at risk of a massive invasion of locusts which could have "a dramatic impact on food security in the region."

"There are signs that the situation is moving towards the early stages of an upsurge. International donor assistance is urgently required to prevent a plague from developing," warned the FAO's Locust Group in a statement.

In Morocco, intensive aerial and ground control operations are in progress against swarms that are laying eggs in the Draa Valley on the southern side of the Atlas Mountains, the statement said.

In the next few weeks, more swarms are expected to arrive in Morocco and Algeria from northern Mauritania and the Sahara.

In Mauritania, adult locusts have been forming swarms in parts of the north and northwest where vegetation is drying out, and some of these swarms have been seen moving northwards towards Morocco.

In Niger, many small swarms were seen moving north in early March.

On Monday, Moha Bagari of Morocco's national research and intervention centre warned: "For as long as Mauritania, where the situation is critical, does not have the locusts under control, we must remain vigilant."

"Up to now, the situation is under control in Morocco," he said. Areas in Morocco that have been invaded by locusts are concentrated in the southeast of the country.

Our strategy is to block the locusts in desert areas so that they don't reach farming regions," said Bagari, adding that "locusts attack all crops."