12/09/2020
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11 SEP 2020. SWARMS APPEAR ALONG THE RED SEA
The Desert Locust situation has improved in Southwest Asia but remains serious in Yemen and parts of East Africa. There is concern that the situation could deteriorate along both sides of the Red Sea.
In East Africa, aerial control operations continue against low numbers of immature swarms that persist in northwest Kenya and northeast Somalia. Breeding is underway in north and northeast Ethiopia where control teams are treating numerous hopper bands and groups that continue to form. The situation is expected to prevail during the remainder of September.
In Eritrea, control operations are in progress against mature swarms on the Red Sea coast where swarm movements continue to be reported. Mature swarms moved north along the Red Sea coast and the Asir Mountains in Saudi Arabia from Yemen to Mecca. In Yemen, mature swarms were seen in the highlands and on the northern Red Sea coast. Hopper bands were present in the interior from Al Jawf to Ataq and on the southern coast. Control operations are in progress in both countries. Widespread and potentially heavy breeding is expected in coastal areas of Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and Eritrea where unusually good rains fell last month, including Sudan.
In Southwest Asia, the situation has improved dramatically as a result of intensive survey and control operations in India and Pakistan. Nevertheless, limited breeding continues in southeast Sindh and Lasbela west of Karachi in Pakistan.
Elsewhere, the situation remains calm. Only low numbers of solitarious adults are present in the northern Sahel of Mauritania, Chad and Sudan. Although breeding has not been detected so far, it is expected to be underway in areas of recent rainfall, perhaps further north than usual. Recent flooding in Sudan is hampering current survey operations. No significant developments are likely during September.
www.fao.org/ag/locusts
