Poor rains limit locust activity in the winter breeding areas along both sides of the Red Sea
The Desert Locust situation continues to remain calm. Very little rain fell during December in the winter breeding areas along both sides of the Red Sea. Consequently, only low numbers of locust adults were present on the coast south of Tokar Delta in Sudan, near Shelshela in Eritrea, near Qunfidah in Saudi Arabia, and near Suq Abs in Yemen. Small-scale breeding will occur in January if more rains fall in coastal areas and locust numbers will increase slightly but remain below threatening levels. Small-scale breeding may also occur in areas that received rainfall during October and November along the eastern coast of Oman between Salalah and Sur. Breeding is unlikely to occur along either side of the Gulf of Aden unless more rains fall on the coast of southern Yemen or in northwest Somalia.
In the Western Region, ecological conditions remained dry excepted for a few isolated patches of green vegetation in northwest Mauritania, northern Mali and southeast of the Hoggar Mountains in southern Algeria. Although locust numbers declined in northwest Mauritania last month, a few isolated adults are likely to persist there during January. In Niger, good rains fell in the Air Mountains where small-scale was in progress and is likely to continue during January but locust numbers are expected to remain below threatening levels.
In South-West Asia, a few isolated adults were seen recently on the coast of western Pakistan near Pasni. Small-scale breeding is likely to commence if additional rains fall in coastal areas between the Strait of Hormuz in Iran to Karachi, Pakistan.
No significant developments are expected during January in the recession area.