EU mobilizes 10 mn euro to combat locust outbreak in East Africa

BRUSSELS, Feb 27 (KUNA) -- The European Union announced Thursday 10 million euro (USD 10.9 million) more to respond to one of the worst Desert Locust outbreak in decades in East Africa. The outbreak could have devastating consequences on food security in an already vulnerable region where 27.5 million people suffer from severe food insecurity and at least 35 million more are at risk, said the Commission in a statement.
Damages to crop and pasture are already being reported across Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia, the three most affected countries, but losses may quickly spread to other neighbouring countries, particularly Djibouti, Eritrea, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Yemen, Sudan, Iran, India and Pakistan are also at risk, it noted.
The EU's contribution announced today is in addition to the 1 million euro (USD 1.1 million) already mobilised last week.
The Desert Locust is considered the most destructive migratory pest in the world. Crop and food losses in affected areas can be enormous, generating direct dramatic negative impacts on agriculture and livelihoods, it added. (end) nk.ibi