3 February
Top officials of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization say pasture and croplands in eastern Africa have been damaged by the swarms of desert locust and that it could lead to a humanitarian crisis.
They say about 12 million people in the region including Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia are at risk of being severely affected.
In Kenya, the outbreak is the worst infestation in 70 years. Video footage shows swarms of the pests covering the sky.
To combat the upsurge in severely affected areas, pesticide is being sprayed from the air.
The desert locust is so destructive that a small swarm covering one square kilometer can eat the same amount of food in one day as 35,000 people.
Experts say the situation can worsen with breeding activity.
FAO warns that the desert locust upsurge can threaten livelihoods and food security in the eastern part of Africa where many people make a living by farming.
NHK
