By: Sarah Prasad

10th July, 2020

With the Coronavirus taking hold of Africa, it threatens the already impecunious continent’s entire population. More recently, a serious upsurge of deadly locusts have been spreading across the Horn of Africa. This has caused a shortage of food in the world’s most vulnerable countries, perpetual destitute and the lack of adequate infrastructure and minimal access to basic needs makes social distancing almost impossible since people need to move around to get essentials. This crisis has now magnified the hugely dangerous increase in locust swarm activity that broke out in January in Kenya and has been the worst invasion in the last 70 years. These pests that are the size of a finger, take advantage of the sudden abundant food supply, devouring crops, which threaten the food security and the local economy of Africa.

These locusts have multiplied by 5 times in the past 6 months, causing it to cross the Red Sea and spread across Yemen and Saudi Arabia and even reach Iran, Pakistan and India. This will cause harm to approximately 20 million people while affecting the grazing for livestock.

Has Africa been able to keep the locusts under control? No not at all. In fact, with closure of airports and suspension of international flights, the supply chains have wrecked havoc, hampering the fight against locusts. Control of these locusts depends on the use of chemical pesticides and naturally occurring fungi, which require aerial spraying. Using high quality sprays have become quite exorbitant and for countries that are struggling to make government revenue, it makes it even more challenging to come up with a solution to famine and starvation. Moreover; with few flights operating, airlifted cargo has fallen by 14%. This in has raised the cost of shipping pesticides by threefold, causing a delay in the delivery of pesticides. Many of the African continents have given up and because of this, eradicating the locusts are becoming more challenging as the days go by.

In one of the news articles, the African government has requested a sum of $76 million in order to combat the locusts outbreak. This plea has been initiated by the natives as a backup plan if the pesticides do not arrive on time. If we think about it, almost 80% of the world’s wealth is taken up by 20% of the world’s richest people. Billions of dollars are accumulated in their banks and most of it is wasted on obsolete luxurious items. If the rich consider donating at least 8% of their total income, it will be enough to help these poor nations combat the deadly locusts by using high quality pesticides. Moreover; with fast pacing technology being developed every single day, it is not unfeasable to solve a solvable problem like this. A great invention can surely kill all pests at once while improving quality of life and raising standard of living.

We can help our fellow nation overcome these locusts by donating to:

https://www.actionagainsthunger.org/story/locusts-swarm-east-africa

This not-for-profit organisation aims to end life-threatening hunger for good within our lifetime hence bringing a smile across faces while saving the lives of many.

Stay Safe – Sarah 🙂

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