Locusts Everywhere
With the media so focused on impeachment and Coronavirus right now, I had not heard about this.
What a disaster.
“Unprecedented” Locust Invasion Approaches Full-Blown Crisis
Locust swarms of biblical proportions are threatening crops across a wide swath of Africa and southwest Asia—spurring alarm among top international officials.
A major concern is famine. The United Nations is warning that mass swarms of desert locusts are endangering food supplies in eastern Africa. In response, officials in Rome mobilized an emergency briefing yesterday in a bid to raise money—noting the situation has a high potential to devolve into a full-blown crisis.
“This is an unprecedented situation that we are facing,” said Dominique Burgeon, an emergency services director at the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.
Cyclones that struck the driest parts of the Arabian Peninsula last year triggered the current crisis, creating ideal conditions for the desert locust species to multiply. Left to breed in isolated corners of Saudi Arabia and Yemen, the locust swarms crossed to the Horn of Africa where they were given further support by another cyclone.
More breeding cycles are expected. The swarms increase in size twentyfold with each successive generation and could reach India by June.
Yeesh.
Yet another mess for our world to deal with. Add "bugs" to the list already containing "fires", "earthquakes", "Middle East", "dictators", "debt" and "division".
Grace & Peace & Love to you all -
Matt
