Famine Looms as Exodus Like Plague of Locusts Wreaks Havoc across East Africa

Vast plagues of locusts have continued to spread across East Africa, causing many to fear that the infestation could usher in a large-scale famine.

The pests have been destroying everything in their path as they swarm across countries such as Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, and now South Sudan. Experts believe it is the largest plague to hit Kenya since the 1950s, with the locusts lingering and breeding as a result of an increase in rains and flooding last year. The swarms are so great, many are even comparing them to the plague of locusts dropped upon Egypt in the biblical book of Exodus.

Now, Christian charity World Vision – which partners with many countries across the region – has talked of the profound and devastating impact the swarms are having on local communities.

“[From what] I understand their appetite is quite huge,” World Vision’s regional director for humanitarian and emergency affairs in East Africa, Joseph Kamara, told The Christian Post. “A swarm eats more than elephants in terms of quantity. And that’s just one swarm. So if each locust lays about 900 eggs, you can imagine what that means.”

The United Nations has said that each swarm – made up of 150 million of the insects – can consume as much vegetation as 35,000 humans.

The most effective way of controlling the spread is to spray pesticide. Unfortunately, many of the affected countries do not have…