Locust swarm looms over Mauritania
Pastor Dale Morgan
Locust swarm looms over Mauritania*
NOUAKCHOTT, Oct 7 (AFP) Oct 07, 2006
A swarm of locusts measuring eight square kilometres (three square
miles) was reported on Saturday in Mauritania, where a devastating
locust invasion ravaged farmland in 2004.
The swarm of crop-eating locusts was sighted near Bennichab, 250
kilometres (155 miles) north of the capital Nouakchott, the centre in
charge of fighting the pests said in a statement.
In 2004 a locust invasion ravaged a vast quantity of crops in the west
African country and left almost a million people at risk of starvation.
Saturday's sighting followed a report of a swarm earlier in the week at
a spot further north, which prompted Mauritania to send military
aircraft to monitor the area.
In January the poverty-stricken nation launched an emergency programme
-- part of a regional drive sponsored by the World Bank and other donors
-- to fight the threat of locusts.
Locusts move in swarms of millions and can travel great distances,
devouring everything in their path.