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Plague of Locusts Attacking Crops in Horn of Africa

Lisa Schlein

   GENEVA - The United Nations says urgent action must be taken to halt an
   invasion of locusts that is threatening food crops and livelihoods in
   the Horn of Africa.

   A locust invasion is swarming across parts of Ethiopia, Somalia and
   Kenya, destroying crops and pastureland in its wake. The United Nations
   says this is the worst outbreak of its kind in 25 years for Ethiopia
   and Somalia, and the worst Kenya has seen in 70 years.

   U.N. agencies warn the locusts are likely to spread even farther across
   East Africa unless immediate action is taken to rid the region of the
   pests.

   Jens Laerke, spokesman for the Office for the Coordination of
   Humanitarian Affairs, told VOA the U.N. has released $10 million from
   its Central Emergency Response Fund to counter the outbreak.

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