Children try to drive away desert locusts swarming in the Okara district of eastern Pakistan's Punjab Province on Saturday. (Photo: Xinhua)
JUBA, Feb, 18 (Xinhua) -- The desert locusts, which have already destroyed crops in Horn of Africa countries, have arrived in South Sudan, the government and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations said Tuesday.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Onyoti Adigo told reporters that the locusts entered the country from Uganda through the southern region of Eastern Equatoria State.
Adigo said the ministry is seeking 2.5 billion South Sudanese pounds (about $20 million) for chemicals, sprays and personnel to respond to the locust invasion.
The entry of the desert locusts has raised concerns about the fragile food security situation in the country where it's estimated that half of the population is facing severe food insecurity and in need of humanitarian assistance.
East Africa is seeing the worst locust infestation in decades.