Summary: October 8, 2004: Locust plague in West Africa: Commission allocates over €25 million to combat infestation (Brussels)
The European Commission has allocated €25.5 million to combat a locust plague currently blighting West Africa, thereby more than doubling the total aid so far granted by international donors in response to this plague. This emergency aid will buy pesticides, provide transport, train staff and offer the technical assistance needed to protect crops and food supplies. This is a priority of EU support to the five West African countries concerned - Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal.
The programme will also prevent the plague from spreading to neighbouring regions. The UN's Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) will draw on its long-standing experience to implement the programme. By systematically destroying empty pesticide drums and obsolete supplies, and funding trials of new techniques, the EU's programme is designed to minimise the impact on human health and the environment and strengthen existing prevention measures.
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