Locusts heading for Sudan
2004-08-11 07:51
Geneva - The plague of locusts sweeping across Africa has reached Chad and threatened to enter Sudan's Darfur region, adding to concerns for millions suffering what aid workers call the world's worst humanitarian crisis, a United Nations official said.
The locusts, which devour crops and destroy entire harvests, could reach western Sudan within eight days if they continue on their path at a speed of 100km a day.
"The locusts have entered Chad because of winds, which aid workers fear will eventually take them into Darfur," said Elizabeth Byrs, spokesperson of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
The insects caused serious crop damage in Mauritania, Mali and Niger before crossing into western Chad, Byrs said on Tuesday.
Biggest plague in decade
She could not say if the swarms would continue their current path toward eastern Chad, where about 200 000 refugees from Darfur are living in makeshift camps. Chad is about 800km across.
Further east in Darfur, more than two million are in desperate need of food aid after more than 18 months of violence and looting has forced one million people to flee their homes, destroyed irrigation wells and prevented a year's harvesting of crops.
Pro-government Arab militiamen have launched the attacks, leaving about 30 000 people dead, in a bid to drive black Africans, mainly farmers, from the region.
A major international campaign is being mounted to get food aid to the refugees in Chad, though the rainy season has limited the ability of trucks to reach camps on dirt roads.
Byrs said that Chad had appealed for US$7-million to treat up to 250 000 hectares expected to be hard hit by the locusts, sub-Saharan Africa's biggest plague of the insects in more than a decade.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation said the insects were settling at a rate of 200 000 locusts per acre. Blankets of the insects have been covering houses, cars and roads.
The last comparable locust infestation, in 1987-89, cost more than a half-billion dollars to combat, UN officials say.
- AP