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Photos: Supercomputer helps track East Africa locust outbreak

The supercomputers are boosting efforts in East Africa to control a locust outbreak that raises what the U.N. food agency calls "an unprecedented threat" to the region's food security. Kenya, Somalia and Uganda have been battling the worst locust outbreak that parts of East Africa have seen in 70 years. Swarms have also been sighted in Djibouti, Eritrea, Tanzania, Congo and South Sudan, a country where roughly half the population already faces hunger after years of civil war. The U.N. recently raised its aid appeal relating to locusts to $138 million, up from $76 million, saying the need for more help is urgent.

Updated on: Mar 13, 2020 5:57 PM IST

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A farmer's daughter waves her shawl in the air to try to chase away swarms of desert locusts from her crops, in Katitika village, Kitui county, Kenya. A supercomputer is boosting efforts in East Africa to control a locust outbreak that raises what the U.N. food agency calls “an unprecedented threat” to the region’s food security. (Ben Curtis / AP)

Updated on Mar 13, 2020 5:57 PM

A farmer's daughter waves her shawl in the air to try to chase away swarms of desert locusts from her crops, in Katitika village, Kitui county, Kenya. A supercomputer is boosting efforts in East Africa to control a locust outbreak that raises what the U.N. food agency calls “an unprecedented threat” to the region’s food security. (Ben Curtis / AP)

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Kenneth Mwangi, a satellite information analyst at the Intergovernmental Authority on Development's Climate Prediction and Applications Center, speaks to The Associated Press in Nairobi. Mwangi said the team can run better prediction models in an outbreak where the spread of locusts “has been very rapid.” (Khalil Senosi / AP)

Updated on Mar 13, 2020 5:57 PM

Kenneth Mwangi, a satellite information analyst at the Intergovernmental Authority on Development's Climate Prediction and Applications Center, speaks to The Associated Press in Nairobi. Mwangi said the team can run better prediction models in an outbreak where the spread of locusts “has been very rapid.” (Khalil Senosi / AP)

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Locust swarms, sometimes as large as some cities, can destroy crops and devastate pasture for animals. Aerial spraying is generally considered the only effective control method. In Uganda, where the locust infestation has recently spread to more than 20 districts in the country’s north and northeast, soldiers have been battling swarms using hand-held spray pumps because of difficulties in getting aircraft as well as the recommended pesticide. (Ben Curtis / AP)

Updated on Mar 13, 2020 5:57 PM

Locust swarms, sometimes as large as some cities, can destroy crops and devastate pasture for animals. Aerial spraying is generally considered the only effective control method. In Uganda, where the locust infestation has recently spread to more than 20 districts in the country’s north and northeast, soldiers have been battling swarms using hand-held spray pumps because of difficulties in getting aircraft as well as the recommended pesticide. (Ben Curtis / AP)

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Kenneth Mwangi shows a map predicting the movement of desert locust swarms, in Nairobi. Officials said that the supercomputers will boost their efforts in tracking locust swarms. (Khalil Senosi / AP)

Updated on Mar 13, 2020 5:57 PM

Kenneth Mwangi shows a map predicting the movement of desert locust swarms, in Nairobi. Officials said that the supercomputers will boost their efforts in tracking locust swarms. (Khalil Senosi / AP)

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Abubakr Salih Babiker, a climate scientist at the Intergovernmental Authority on Development's Climate Prediction and Applications Center, shows server racks containing a supercomputer in Nairobi. Kenya, Somalia and Uganda have been battling the worst locust outbreak that parts of East Africa have seen in 70 years. Swarms have also been sighted in Djibouti, Eritrea, Tanzania, Congo and South Sudan, a country where roughly half the population already faces hunger after years of civil war. (Khalil Senosi / AP)

Updated on Mar 13, 2020 5:57 PM

Abubakr Salih Babiker, a climate scientist at the Intergovernmental Authority on Development's Climate Prediction and Applications Center, shows server racks containing a supercomputer in Nairobi. Kenya, Somalia and Uganda have been battling the worst locust outbreak that parts of East Africa have seen in 70 years. Swarms have also been sighted in Djibouti, Eritrea, Tanzania, Congo and South Sudan, a country where roughly half the population already faces hunger after years of civil war. (Khalil Senosi / AP)

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Ranger Gabriel Lesoipa is surrounded by desert locusts as he and a ground team relay the coordinates of the swarm to a plane spraying pesticides, in Nasuulu Conservancy, northern Kenya. The U.N. recently raised its aid appeal relating to locusts to $138 million, up from $76 million, saying the need for more help is urgent. Experts have warned that if the number of locusts is unchecked they could grow 500 times by June, when drier weather is expected in East Africa. (Ben Curtis / AP)

Updated on Mar 13, 2020 5:57 PM

Ranger Gabriel Lesoipa is surrounded by desert locusts as he and a ground team relay the coordinates of the swarm to a plane spraying pesticides, in Nasuulu Conservancy, northern Kenya. The U.N. recently raised its aid appeal relating to locusts to $138 million, up from $76 million, saying the need for more help is urgent. Experts have warned that if the number of locusts is unchecked they could grow 500 times by June, when drier weather is expected in East Africa. (Ben Curtis / AP)

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