Africa Locust Invasion Spreading, May Become ‘Devastating Plague,' UN Warns

Africa Locust Invasion Spreading, May Become ‘Devastating Plague,' UN Warns
Young desert locusts that have not yet grown wings cover the ground in the desert near Garowe, in the semi-autonomous Puntland region of Somalia on Feb. 5, 2020. Ben Curtis/AP Photo
Jack Phillips
Jack Phillips
Breaking News Reporter
|Updated:

A United Nations official warned that an outbreak of tens of millions of locusts is spreading throughout East Africa and is ravaging its vital farmland, putting the lives of millions of people at risk.

The U.N.’s top humanitarian official, Mark Lowcock, said swarms of the insects crossed into Uganda overnight. And now, South Sudan and Tanzania, he said, are “on the watch list.”

Jack Phillips
Jack Phillips
Breaking News Reporter
Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter who covers a range of topics, including politics, U.S., and health news. A father of two, Jack grew up in California's Central Valley. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/jackphillips5
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