Introduction  Two breeding seasons for Desert Locust in Yemen  Winter breeding season during Oct – April at coastal plains of Red Sea and Aden Gulf (16000 sq kms)  Summer breeding season during May - Aug at the interior parts of Aljawf, Marib, Shabwah, Hadhramout and Almahrah (27000 sq kms)  Desert Locust Monitoring and Controlling Center is the responsible institution for all locust activities in Yemen in collaboration with agricultural offices in the governorates as the diagram  Centralized activities of desert locust established due to the long calm periods of locust for the economic reasons.

The Main Reasons behind DL Outbreak in Yemen  During the Month of Oct.2015, FAO (DLIS) indicated to the potential impact of El Nino which is felt most strongly in the Central Region with above-average rainfall in November and December from the Southern Red Sea to the Horn of Africa, often followed by wetter than normal long rains in northern Somalia and Gulf of Aden during April to June,2016 Seasonal forecast issued in October 2015 suggesting above-average rainfall over the Horn of Africa and Gulf of Aden commencing in November 2015 (source: World Climate Service)

The Main Reasons behind DL Outbreak in Yemen  During 30 th Oct. & 4 th Nov.2016, Southern Coastal Plain affected by the two Tropical Cyclones which extended to the interior areas of Yemen.  FAO warning on those cyclones while there remains a high risk of unusually heavy rains and flooding in coastal and interior areas. This could cause ecological conditions to eventually become favorable for Desert Locust and remain so for a number of months. Megh Cyclone Chapala Cyclone

The Main Reasons behind DL Outbreak in Yemen  During the month of March,2016 an information received from Shabwah Coastal Plain indicated to new generation of DL Hoppers were recorded at the areas located between Erqa & Beer Ali of Coastal Plain of Shabwah and due to insecure and spread Bee Hives at the affected area no control operation carried out for those areas.  Heavy rains & floods continuing over the coastal & interior areas during mid of April, 2016.

The current DL outbreak up-to April,2016  The current situation is that probably most of the locust infestations have shifted from the southern coast to the interior in the past week or more on the persistent S and SW winds that prevailed during the period. The last remaining adults on the coast may arrive in the interior.  On 14 April, there were confirmed reports of at least one swarm and dense groups of adults that were copulating and laying eggs in several wadis on the interior plateau between Thamud and Wadi Hadhramaut.  Additional reports of adult groups at the western end of Wadi Hadhramaut between Al Sor and Al Aber.  The full extent of infestations in the interior is not well known at present due to difficulties in mounting surveys in insecure and remote areas.

The expectation movements of DL Swarms  A high risk that locust numbers will increase further given the widespread heavy rains that have fallen so far this month in the interior.  Breeding is already underway in some areas with hatching expected to commence by the end of April and continue during May when hopper groups and bands are likely to form.  New swarms could form in the interior from early June onwards.  High probability that adult groups and a few small swarms are likely to have dispersed within a large area of the interior between Marib and Al Jawf to Hadhramaut, Thamud and perhaps further east towards Romah, Hat and the Omani border. There is also a possibility that some of these continued into southern KSA and maybe moving to Oman & UAE.

Expectation movements of DL Swarms according to FAO analyzed

Obstacles facing DLMCC  All control vehicles belong to the Desert Locust Monitoring and Control Center were losed.  Survey and control operations cannot be undertaken at some areas due to the insecurity.  No budget from the government allocated for survey and control operations.  Spread bee hives at most DL areas which affect the control operations to be taken on time.

Population affected  More than 100 thousands of farmers at the governorates of Hadhramout, Al-Mahra, Al-Jawf, Marib and Shabwah will be affected badly if control operations not taken on time.  The beekeepers & Herders will be affected if the pastures destroyed by Desert Locust.

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