Morocco's southern regions on alert as desert locust groups spread

Teams are mobilized from Guelmim to Merzouga, including Tan-Tan, Tiznit, Agadir, Foum El Hassan, Foum Zguid, and Errachidia, to contain their progression. According to the FAO, these groups consist of immature winged locusts that developed from larval bands observed in June. Their maturation could lead to the formation of small swarms before a possible migration towards Mauritania and the summer breeding grounds in the Sahel.

Morocco is currently conducting the majority of anti-locust operations in the western region, demonstrating the scale of efforts to control detected outbreaks. Morocco continues extensive prospecting and anti-locust operations. The latest bulletin from the FAO's Desert Locust Information Service DLIS reported that 87,363 hectares were treated in June, covering almost all affected areas in the western region, compared to 1,070 hectares in Algeria and 68 hectares in Mauritania.

These interventions significantly reduced larval populations, with only a few pockets remaining by the end of June. However, the organization emphasizes that treatments and surveillance must continue in the coming weeks to prevent the formation of new swarms. This resurgence is primarily due to favorable climatic conditions in recent months, including spring and June rains, which have sustained abundant vegetation in several southern Morocc