As African Locust Plague Begins, Aid Falls Short - Reuters

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ALGIERS, Algeria — Damage from swarms of locusts eating vital crops in North and West Africa could triple to $245 million within a year if no emergency aid is provided soon, U.N. and government experts say. "Locusts use war tactics. Locusts know no borders. Donors have to understand ... we face the risks of famine and death," Senegalese Agriculture Minister Habib Syla told a regional meeting to discuss the plague.

Desert locust swarms contain up to 80 million insects per square kilometer and travel more than 80 miles a day. An adult desert locust can munch its own weight, or about two grams, of food a day. Swarms can devastate entire crop fields in minutes.

The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization said the current locust crisis was the most serious to hit West Africa since a 1987-89 plague which cost more than $300 million. The FAO said just $9 million had been pledged to combat the infestation which began in late 2003 after unusually strong rainfall south of the Sahara desert helped breeding of the insects.

"The amount (pledged) is far below our expectations. We estimate immediate needs at $80 million. We can't cope ... without international aid. Crops will be heavily damaged," said Thami Benhalima, executive-secretary of the FAO locusts fighting commission for North Africa."

EDIT

http://www.enn.com/news/2004-07-28/s_26245.asp