ROME, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- The United Nations said good rains and favorable ecological conditions have increased locust numbers in Northeast Africa.
The Food and Agriculture Organization Friday said the plant-devouring insects were infesting coastal areas of Sudan and other Red Sea and Gulf of Aden countries.
"Vigilance is critical, particularly on the Red Sea coastal plains where a Desert Locust outbreak developed in Eritrea in December," the FAO said, raising the alert level in the Red Sea area to "caution."
"When vegetation begins to dry out, these locusts may form hopper bands and swarms that could move to neighboring countries," FAO expert Keith Cressman said.
Small-scale breeding is in progress in coastal areas of Saudi Arabia and Yemen, and the FAO has received reports of locust concentrations on the northwest coast of Somalia. In Eritrea and Sudan a second generation of breeding is underway that could cause locusts to rapidly increase in number.
The agency is closely monitoring the situation as continuing rains could lead to further deterioration and greater threat to the countries around the Red Sea in April and May.
