The National Committee for Combating Desert Locusts in Libya announced, “Many farms in the cities and municipalities of Sebha, Tarhuna, Bani Walid, Tazerbu, Semno, and Traghen were damaged due to the African locust attack.”
Director of the Committee’s Information Office, Iman Al-Suwaih, said, “The Committee suffers from a lack of capabilities in terms of pesticides, spraying machines, four-wheel drive vehicles, and field equipment,” explaining that “these locusts are found in desert areas, but they are endemic and not desert.”
Al-Suwaih indicated to Bawabat Al-Wasat, “I addressed and corresponded with the government and the competent authorities without any response, and warned of the situation getting worse if the necessary capabilities and needs to complete the control operations are not available,” saying: “The African locust attacks all field crops of wheat, barley, corn, and trees, and currently losses have been recorded.” There are large palm plantations in Tazirbu, and this affects food security and national output.”
As for the losses, Al-Suwaih explained that “they were not accurately estimated” in light of the continuing African locust attack, and called on the government and the competent authorities to intervene immediately and urgently and provide the capabilities.”
She said: “Now these locusts have become full-fledged insects capable of mating and laying eggs under appropriate environmental conditions, and thus the situation has become more dangerous,” and called on the government to “allocate health insurance for workers, engineers, and technicians who deal with chemical pesticides that are considered dangerous to human health.” And provide everything necessary to protect them.”
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