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- The African Development Bank (AfDB) has announced a $1.5 million emergency grant to fight locust’s invasion
- Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania will benefit from the Grant
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has announced a $1.5 million emergency grant to fight locusts invasion ravaging East and Horn of Africa since 2019. The countries that will benefit from the emergency grant are Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania. According to the UN, locusts came from Yemen, invading Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia affecting the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands. the Food Security and Nutrition Working Group in January said that the crisis will impact 19 million people,
The statement said that the proposed assistance will be channeled to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which is mandated to mobilize resources on behalf of the African Union.
The grant will support purchase of pesticides and fuel aircraft for aerial spraying of the next-generation swarms, conduct an impact assessment to enhance preparedness. The estimated cost to control the infestations is around $147 million. About $75 million has been provided by governments, donors and UN agencies including the FAO [Food and Agriculture Organization] and the World Food Program (WFP) leaving a significant shortfall in the funding.
