ReliefWeb

Situation level raised to THREAT; Aerial operations required in Yemen

The Desert Locust situation has become extremely serious in the interior of Yemen where substantial breeding has taken place because of unusually heavy rains. Hopper bands have formed over a large and remote area on the southern edge of the Empty Quarter. Swarms are expected to form in June and remain in the area and lay eggs by the end of the month. The eggs will hatch in July and another generation of hopper bands will form.

Consequently, aerial operations requiring external assistance will need to be mounted in July to avoid the formation of second generation swarms and to minimize the threat to crops and pasture.

Aerial and ground control operations continue against hopper bands in the interior of Saudi Arabia. There is a risk that swarms could form and, if not controlled, will move to Yemen and Sudan. There is also a chance that a few swarms could reach areas in Oman and southern Iran affected by tropical cyclone Gonu.

Control operations are also in progress against smaller infestations of hopper bands on the southeastern coast of Iran, the coast of western Pakistan and on the border of Ethiopia and northern Somalia.

Small-scale breeding is underway in the Nile Valley in Sudan north of Khartoum.

Summer breeding will commence in the Sahel of West Africa (Mauritania, Mali, Niger and Chad) and Sudan with the onset of the seasonal rains. Initially, populations will remain low.

This year higher than normal populations will be present at the beginning of the summer along the Indo-Pakistan border where breeding will start with the arrival of the monsoon rains.