Egyptian media reported the presence of massive swarms of locusts attacking the border areas of Halayeb, Shalatin, and Abu Ramad, located in the southern part of the Red Sea Governorate. The Egyptian newspaper Al-Dustour observed an attack by swarms of yellow desert locusts in huge quantities exceeding several kilometers, coming from Sudan.
A source told the newspaper that the swarms invaded the Egyptian border from the direction of Sudan in large quantities spreading across different areas, starting from Abu Ramad and currently entering the Shalatin area, noting that numerous locusts have severely attacked trees and some mountainous crops.
The source stated that individuals and engineers in locust control bases are working continuously to control and combat the swarms, utilizing the control bases spread across the bordering areas focused on protection and extermination efforts, as well as entering the depths of mountainous regions and areas where swarms gather.
It was highlighted that the swarms arrived in large numbers and in various areas, specifying that the type of locust entering the Egyptian borders is the yellow desert locust, which consumes 35 tons of food and crops per square kilometer of swarms.
The source indicated that measures are currently being taken against these swarms using all control methods, with committees formed to monitor the situation. It was noted that the locust control administration in Halayeb and Shalatin has detected new arrivals of yellow locust swarms, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation has received notifications from the relevant authorities in the governorate, coordinating with some international organizations concerned to control the situation and continue pest control operations.
Furthermore, the locust control teams are working around the clock for consecutive days in the mountainous valleys to contain and eliminate these swarms, emphasizing that coordination is taking place at all levels to combat the locust invasion from the Sudanese side, which has reached populated areas in Halayeb, Shalatin, and Abu Ramad.
