FAO leases helicopters to boost Desert Locust surveillance in Ethiopia
Despite COVID-19 travel restrictions, three helicopters leased by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), for Desert Locust control operations have arrived in Ethiopia. The pilots and crew also completed their mandatory quarantine and have been deployed in the field.
The FAO Representative in Ethiopia, Ms. Fatouma Seid handed over the helicopters to Mr. Oumer Hussien Oba, Ethiopia’s Minister, Ministry of Agriculture who was accompanied by Mr. Sani Redi Ahmed, the State Minister.
The six-seater (including the pilot) helicopters will be used for surveillance, mainly in areas that are difficult to reach by ground transportation or on foot.
They permit landing and taking off from rough strips, are equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS), and can record data from take-off to landing.
FAO is leasing the helicopters for three months at about USD 600 000 - part of the funding provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
In March 2020, FAO handed over two leased aircraft to the government of Ethiopia for aerial spray operations. They were deployed in Southern Ethiopia.
The Government of Ethiopia has also leased three aircraft and deployed hundreds of experts and thousands of scouts in the control operations.
“With this expanded aerial fleet, FAO is confident that the Desert Locust invasion will be weakened and damages to agriculture and the environment and livelihoods reduced”, noted Ms. Seid.
FAO is also supporting the expansion of ground control operations. The Organization is providing three trucks, 40 vehicles, 110 motorbikes, and 46 vehicle-mounted sprayers and 4 515 handheld and knapsack sprayers.
Also, FAO is providing 330 000 litres of pesticides 4 000 pieces of Personal Protective Equipment, GPS, and first aid/emergency kits.
Despite control efforts, Desert Locust breeding ongoing
The total area treated since June 2019 is over 267 000 hectares while over 454 000 hectares have been surveyed.
Despite this success, the Desert Locust situation remains extremely alarming as more swarms form and mature in southern Ethiopia (Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' and Oromia regions) and disperse northwards into the Somali region. Mature and young swarms are also crossing from Somalia to the Somali region and Dire Dawa city.
This invasion coincides with the (February – May) rains and the planting season. Moreover, the current rains will allow the new swarms to stay in place, mature and lay eggs while a few could move from Kenya to Ethiopia, Uganda, and South Sudan.
“Despite the travel interruptions and difficulties in getting supplies and personnel due to COVID-19 restrictions, FAO remains committed to working with the Government of Ethiopia to not only control the Desert Locust invasion but also support the affected communities to restore their agriculture livelihoods”, added Ms. Seid
The Organization plans to support about 62 000 households with agricultural inputs and cash transfers as soon as conditions allow.
Besides internal resources, FAO Ethiopia has received funding to scale up Desert Locust operations in Ethiopia from the Africa Solidarity Trust Fund; Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; European Commission’s Directorate-General International Cooperation and Development; European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations; MasterCard; Office of United States Foreign Disaster Assistance; Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency; United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund; United Kingdom's Department for International Development; and USAID. Others are the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (funding through the Central Region Desert Locust Control Commission) and the governments of Belgium, China, France, Germany, and Norway.
More resources
Desert Locust Crisis – FAO in Emergencies
Contact
Rachel Nandelenga
Expert in Communication, FAO Ethiopia
[email protected] | +251 (0) 900806675
This News Release was issued by the Ethiopia country office of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
FAO Representation in Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 647 8888