§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the danger posed to(a) Algerian, (b) Mauritanian, (c) Sudanese, (d) Niger 488W and (e) Moroccan crops by the reported increase in migratory desert locusts in North Africa; what impact this has had on (i) food stocks in and (ii) humanitarian aid allocated to the area; and if he will make a statement. [134725]
§ Hilary BennThe United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is monitoring the situation in North Africa closely. On 17 October, they issued an alert regarding desert locust outbreaks in Mauritania, Niger and Sudan. Since then an outbreak has also been reported in Mali. FAO are aware that southern Algeria, southern Morocco and the Red Sea coastal plains could also be at risk in the coming weeks.
FAO are assisting national Governments in the region to respond to the threat through their Emergency Prevention System. which was set up in 1994 to help Governments control locust outbreaks in their early stages. The outbreaks have not yet had any significant impact on crops or food stocks and there has been no call for humanitarian assistance. The UK is in close touch with FAO on the issue and will carefully consider any calls for further assistance.