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October 27, 2004

Locust plague

They came to Djibo a couple weeks ago. Here is an extract from an email I received today from a friend there. The situation is already fairly desperate and it will get worse as the year goes on. Please pray. I will post something soon about other practical things you can do if you want to help out.

...there seem to be pockets where the locust didn't touch, but generally they've wiped out probably in the region of 90% (and that's being optimistic) of peoples crops, and many people got nothing. However, even if the locust didn't come the crops would have been pretty poor any way. In the Sebba and Piela regions the locust didn't even reach there and still the church is calling it a famine situation. In Djibo during the space of three weeks the grain has gone up from 11,000 per sack to nearly 18000. Boureima did get some grain, probably enough for two meals. I think Du'aawjo may have got a little bit more, but he hasn't come in this year. Only his boys have. We are at present looking into various options for helping with grain.

Update: Read my appeal in the wake of the locust swarms.

Posted by sahelsteve at October 27, 2004 10:20 PM