ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Desert Locust infestations have affected more than 21,452 hectares of pasture and croplands in 12 districts of Ethiopia's northeastern Afar regional state, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) disclosed on Monday.
In its periodic report, the UN agency also disclosed that a total of more than 4,700 tonnes of relief food has been distributed to 439,687 beneficiaries.
Last week, the Ethiopian government and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) had called for urgent actions against the deteriorating Desert Locust infestation as it posed severe impact on the country's agricultural production.
"Hoppers have fledged, and an increasing number of small immature and mature swarms have continued to devour crop and pasture fields in Tigray, Amhara, Oromia, and Somali regional states," FAO said.
"Some farms in Amhara region have registered nearly 100 percent loss of Teff (a staple crop in Ethiopia)," it said.
"We need to act fast and mobilize the required resources urgently to scale up control and preventive measures," Fatouma Seid, FAO Representative in Ethiopia said.
