Days That End in 'Y' - editorial 'toons & memes

'Our forefathers would be shooting by now' edition

Africa’s swarming threat

The worst locust outbreak in 70 years has plagued East Africa since late 2019, spurring people to look for creative solutions. By March, the insects had already destroyed hundreds of thousands of acres of cropland. Experts have warned more desert locust eggs are already hatching, raising concerns the swarms will wreak more havoc and possibly expand into West Africa.

Locusts swarm on a tree south of Lodwar town in Turkana county, northern Kenya Tuesday, June 23, 2020. The worst outbreak of the voracious insects in Kenya in 70 years is far from over, and their newest generation is now finding its wings for proper flight. (AP Photo/Boris Polo)

A farmer's son in a locust swarm near Katitika Village, Kenya.

As coronavirus is running rampant across the world, locusts are destroying everything in Eastern Africa. They reproduce so quickly, a swarm can grow 400-fold in just a month.

Swarms can swell to 70 billion insects—enough to cover New York City 1.5 times— and to decimate 300 million pounds of crops in a single day.

People displaced by Islamic extremists at Muna camp in Maiduguri, Nigeria

In places like Somalia, armed conflict has made it difficult to access some of the locusts’ breeding areas to eradicated with pesticides. Last week, suspected Boko Haram jihadis opened fire on a United Nations aid helicopter in the northeastern Nigerian town of Damasak.

In a report released on July 3, the FAO urged Ethiopia, India, Pakistan, Sudan, and South Sudan to remain on high alert over the next four weeks. The agency also asked West African nations to continue preparing for infestations after warning earlier the swarms could cross into the region from the Sahel belt just south of the Sahara Desert.

But don't worry, black lives matter...