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A. conducted B. border-spanning C. scale D. spill E. shortage F. alarming G. unusual H. significant l. battling J. proposed K. extremely |
Climate Crisis Fueled Locust Swarms
A massive invasion of desert locusts seriously threatens food security across East Africa and has increasingly alarmed United Nations experts in recent weeks.
"The situation remains serious in the Horn of Africa, where it threatens pastures and crops in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia, "says a report released last week by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). "The current swarms represent a(n) threat to food security and livelihoods in the Horn of Africa. There is a risk that some swarms could appear in northeast Uganda, southeast South Sudan, and southwest Ethiopia. "
FAO has called for a " massive, campaign' to fight against the hundreds of millions of locusts and stop them from spreading to other countries. It is noted that impacted regions in Ethiopia and Somalia haven't seen swarms of this in 25 years and that Kenya hasn't faced a threat on this level in 70 years.
The primary method of locust swarms is the flying spraying of pesticides. FAO's "Locust Watch" service explains that although giant nets, flamethrowers, lasers, and huge vacuums have been in the past, these are not in use for locust control. People and reduce population levels over large birds often eat locusts but usually not enough to areas.
"This destructive locust outbreak is starting to destroy vegetation across East Africa with speed and violence, "U. N. humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock said in a statement.
"Defenseless families that were already dealing with food now face the prospect of watching as their crops are destroyed before their eyes."
"We must act now, "Lowcock added, "If left unchecked, this outbreak has the potential to over into more countries in East Africa with awful consequences. A quick and determined response to contain it is essential. "
