Attachments
General Situation during March 2015
Forecast until mid-May 2015
The Desert Locust situation improved during March in the winter breeding areas along both sides of the Red Sea due to ongoing control operations and drying ecological conditions. Nevertheless, a few adult groups and swarms formed in Sudan and Eritrea, and there remains a risk that some of these may move into the Nile Valley in northern Sudan and breed near irrigated cropping areas. Very few locusts were reported in other regions. During the forecast period, small-scale breeding is likely to cause locust numbers to increase slightly in the spring breeding areas of Northwest Africa, the interior of the Arabian Peninsula, and in southeast Iran and southwest Pakistan as a result of good rains that fell in March.
Western Region. The situation remained calm in March and no locusts were reported in the region. As good rains fell in parts of the spring breeding areas south of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco and Algeria, small-scale breeding is likely to cause locust numbers to increase slightly during the forecast period in both countries as well as in northern Western Sahara, and perhaps in southwest Libya and northern Mauritania.
Central Region. The situation improved in the winter breeding areas along both sides of the Red Sea due to control operations and drying conditions in March. In Sudan, ground and aerial control operations declined, treating mainly locally bred adult groups and swarms on the southern coast. A few adult groups and swarms moved into this area from Eritrea where control was in progress against similar infestations. Locust numbers declined on the Red Sea coast in Saudi Arabia where limited control operations were conducted in the north. Low numbers of adults persisted on the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden coasts in Yemen. Good rains fell in the spring breeding areas in the interior of Saudi Arabia and Yemen where small-scale breeding may occur during the forecast period, causing locust numbers to increase slightly. The situation remained calm in Egypt where an individual locust was seen in the south.
Eastern Region. The situation remained calm during March. Isolated solitarious adults were present in the interior of southeast Iran. As good rains fell in spring breeding areas along the coast of southeast Iran and southwest Pakistan, small-scale breeding is likely to cause locust numbers to increase slightly during the forecast period, mainly along the coast and in adjacent interior areas of both countries.