(2004-35) News Release August 25, 2004 Ottawa -- The Honourable Aileen Carroll, Minister of International Cooperation, today announced that Canada has contributed $ 6.5 million to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in support of massive national locust control operations in West Africa. In addition, preventative actions will be taken in North Africa to help counter a major locust invasion in that region over the coming year. Currently, countries in West Africa, particularly those in the Sahel, are fighting one of the worst locust invasions since the late 1980s. "Canada and the international community must act quickly to prevent famine and a humanitarian crisis," said Minister Carroll. "Canada's assistance will help reduce the serious economic, health and environmental impacts associated with a locust invasion in the affected regions." The funding, to be provided by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), will help support the FAO's field operations and provide technical assistance to the affected countries. These efforts include the purchase of pesticides, help to cover the costs for ground and aerial spraying, and for environmental monitoring. Desert locust swarms can contain millions of insects, posing a serious threat to both crops and grazing land. In the past months, large swarms from northwest Africa have invaded the Sahel countries - Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, Niger and Chad - disrupting the summer planting season. As more breeding occurs due to wet climatic conditions, the first new swarms could start to form by mid-September, seriously threatening the region's crops that will be ready for harvest. Control activities will therefore have to continue into the Fall. "Canada's contribution will help limit damage to crops and reduce losses sustained by farmers in the Sahel," added Minister Carroll. "Our support will also help curb the threat of swarms of locusts arriving in Darfur, Sudan, where the people are already suffering the ravages of war and facing a grave humanitarian crisis." Funding for this initiative was provided for in the March 2004 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework. - 30 - Information: Andrew Graham Director of Communications Office of the Minister of International Cooperation Telephone: (819) 953-6238 Media Relations Office Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) Telephone: (819) 953-6534 E-mail: info@acdi-cida.gc.ca
