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Liberia worms trigger emergency Liberia worms swarm 'emergency'
(about 6 hours later)
Liberia's president has declared a state of emergency in response to a plague of crop-destroying army worms.Liberia's president has declared a state of emergency in response to a plague of crop-destroying army worms.
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf said all possible resources would be used to fight the insects, that have spread to next-door Guinea and are nearing Sierra Leone. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf said all possible resources would be used to fight the insects, which have spread to next-door Guinea and are nearing Sierra Leone.
Liberia has already appealed for international help to carry out aerial spraying against the insects. Some 400,000 residents in 80 villages had been affected, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said.
The "worms" - which are actually caterpillars - are among the world's most destructive agricultural pests.The "worms" - which are actually caterpillars - are among the world's most destructive agricultural pests.
A delegation from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is in Liberia taking samples of the caterpillars to determine the best ways of controlling them.
Guinea has started spraying, and Sierra Leone has announced it will mobilise chemicals and personnel to its border.Guinea has started spraying, and Sierra Leone has announced it will mobilise chemicals and personnel to its border.
Creeks and rivers - which some villages rely on for drinking water - are being polluted by the massive amount of faeces being produced by the swarm. Worst in decades
Worst for decades Liberia has already appealed for international help to carry out aerial spraying against tens of millions of the invading insects.
Mrs Johnson-Sirleaf said 62 communities with 350,000 inhabitants had been affected in Liberia, with indications that several villages in neighbouring Guinea were now experiencing a similar invasion. This is indeed a crisis and I hereby declare a state of national emergency Ellen Johnson-SirleafLiberian president It is the West African country's worst infestation of army worm in three decades.
Speaking during her annual message to lawmakers, Mrs Johnson-Sirleaf said her government had taken immediate steps to combat the swarm, establishing a task force to deal with the crisis. Water and food are being supplied to the most vulnerable and displaced Ellen Johnson-SirleafLiberian president class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7854126.stm">Q&A: Army worms ravage Liberia
"This is indeed a crisis and I hereby declare a state of national emergency with particular emphasis on the existing and potentially affected counties," said the president. Creeks and rivers - which some villages rely on for drinking water - have been polluted by the massive amount of faeces from the swarm.
"The technical team has identified and classified the species and has commenced spraying in the affected areas," she said. "Water and food are being supplied to the most vulnerable and displaced." Mrs Johnson-Sirleaf said there are indications the insects had reached several villages in neighbouring Guinea.
Last week, Liberia's agriculture minister said the swarm was the worst for three decades. Speaking during her annual message to lawmakers, she said: "I hereby declare a state of national emergency with particular emphasis on the existing and potentially affected counties.
The FAO's Tim Vaessen said: "There is a need for immediate action otherwise it may create problems for food production." "The technical team has identified and classified the species and has commenced spraying in the affected areas. Water and food are being supplied to the most vulnerable and displaced."
With each female laying between 500 and 1,000 eggs, the caterpillars (of the genus Spodoptera) can lay waste to an entire crop in a matter of days once they reach maturity. An agriculture ministry-led command post, manned by fewer than 100 pest control workers, has been set up to contain the infestation.
They can grow up to 5cm (2in) in length, FAO experts are in Liberia helping efforts to control the swarm.
An Agriculture Ministry-led command post, manned by fewer than a hundred pest control workers, has been set up to contain tens of millions of invading insects. The agency's Winfred Hammond told the BBC: "It's quite an alarming situation for us, in a country where food-security is a big challenge. The areas affected have all been consumed by the army worms."
The invasion began in Bong County before spreading into neighbouring Lofa and Gbarpolu counties and threatening villages over the border in Guinea.
With each female laying between 500 and 1,000 eggs, the caterpillars (of the genus Spodoptera) can devour an entire crop in a matter of days once they reach maturity. They grow up to 5cm (2in) in length.
Are you in Liberia? Have you been affected by the invading insects? Send us your comments below.Are you in Liberia? Have you been affected by the invading insects? Send us your comments below.
You can also send your pictures of the insects or insect damage in Liberia to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here.You can also send your pictures of the insects or insect damage in Liberia to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here.
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