Sahel – Locust Invasion as Children Starve in West Africa

CHILDREN in famine-hit west Africa are eating locusts to survive as a food crisis worsens, World Vision Australia says.

The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation has issued an alert for northern Mali and Niger where swarms of locusts are expected to build in June. Reports have also emerged that young children across the region are scavenging for locusts and insects to survive the worsening food crisis. ”We’ve begun hearing reports of young children hunting and surviving off insects as food rations in their village or community run dry,” World Vision Australia spokeswoman Anthea Spinks said. Click to read more from Hearld Sun