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The World Bank has approved $500 million in response to the consequences of the locust invasion in Africa and the Middle East. This financial assistance includes low-interest loans and grants to the most affected countries.
In the eastern part of the African continent, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda will benefit directly in a first phase with a total amount of $160 million. Ethiopia is expected to receive $63 million, partly for the purchase of seeds, fertilizer and fodder. Uganda, for its part, will benefit from $48 million to finance resilience activities such as soil and water conservation. For its part, Kenya will receive $43 million to help pastoral households and agricultural producers, while Djibouti will use part of its $6 million to provide cash transfers to households. It should be noted that the World Bank’s support is a real relief for the countries in this region and comes at a time when FAO fears a second wave of swarms by next June. According to the financial institution’s most optimistic forecasts, the Horn of Africa could register a loss of agricultural and pastoral production worth $2.5 billion if it manages to stem the locust threat, compared to $8.5 billion if it fails.
Source: Ecofin Agency