ReliefWeb

General Situation during June 2014
Forecast until mid-August 2014

The Desert Locust situation remained calm during June except in parts of the Central Region. Although control operations continued against infestations in the spring breeding areas of Saudi Arabia, a few small swarms may form and move to Yemen and Sudan in July where breeding will occur in areas that receive summer rains. Locust infestations declined in the Horn of Africa and a few swarms moved to northern Ethiopia and Eritrea. In Iran, control operations were carried out against hopper and adult groups that formed in the spring breeding areas. During the forecast period, small-scale breeding will commence with the onset of the seasonal rains in the summer breeding areas of the northern Sahel in West Africa and along the Indo-Pakistan border, causing locust numbers to increase slightly but remain below threatening levels.

Western Region. The situation remained calm during June. A few groups of mature adults were present and laying eggs in irrigated areas in the central Sahara of Algeria and 22 ha were treated. Elsewhere, dry conditions prevailed, and no surveys were carried out and no locusts were reported. During the forecast period, low numbers of adults are expected to appear in southeast and central Mauritania, northern Mali, in the Tamesna and Air Mountains of northern Niger, and in central and eastern Chad. Small-scale breeding will occur in those areas that receive rainfall, causing locust numbers to increase slightly.

Central Region. The situation remained generally calm during June except in Saudi Arabia where spring breeding continued in the interior, giving rise to additional hopper groups and bands, and adult groups. Groups of mature adults moved south while a few immature swarms arrived in northern Yemen and dispersed in the interior and central highlands. Aerial and ground control operations treated 17,800 ha in Saudi Arabia. A few swarms were seen on the plateau in northern Somalia in early June and small swarms moved to northern Ethiopia and adjacent highland areas in Eritrea. Aircraft treated nearly 1,200 ha in northern Ethiopia. Control operations concluded in Oman and only scattered adults remained. In northern Sudan, adults formed a few groups in the Nile Valley that were treated. During the forecast period, a few small swarms may form in the spring breeding areas of the interior in Saudi Arabia and move to the summer breeding areas in Sudan and Yemen where breeding will cause locust numbers to increase in those areas that receive rainfall. A few small swarms from northern Ethiopia could appear in Eritrea and move to Sudan in July.

Eastern Region. Groups of hoppers and adults formed in the spring breeding areas of southeastern Iran, and 18,000 ha were treated during the first half of June. Thereafter, the situation improved. No locusts were reported elsewhere in the region. During the forecast period, low numbers of adults are expected to appear on both sides of the Indo-Pakistan border where small-scale breeding will occur with the arrival of the southwest monsoon rains, causing locust numbers to increase slightly.