The Africa Emergency Locust Control Project (AELP) Gambia Office has confirmed that no locust are present in the country during the period July to August 2007.

This statement was carried in their monthly locust situation report, released yesterday and signed by Sheikh Tijan Sosseh, acting Project Coordinator of the Africa Emergency Locust Control Project, The Gambia.

According to the report, the divisional locust teams in all the regions of the country have conducted a survey and covered 1080 hectares, but no locust presence were reported and no significant development is expected during the period from July to August 2007.

On the general situation, the report indicated that the desert locust situation during July 2007 remained extremely serious in Yemen for a third consecutive month. And eggs found laying hatching and hopper band formation occurred within a large portion of the interior. "By the end of the month, immature swarms started to form and were moving into crops. At the same time, breeding continues and new infestations were being found in areas that have not being surveyed previously. Ground control operations commenced in early July and treated nearly 19,000 hectares. More swarms will form in the month of August 2007, but most of them are likely to stay in the interior. There is slight risk that some swarms could move to the Red Sea Coastal plains of Yemen and Saudi Arabia or to Indo-Pakistan. If more rainfall occurs in the interior of Yemen, another generation of egg could start by the end of August with hatching and band formation in September," the report indicated.

In the Western region, the report revealed that, the situation remained calm during July 2007 and seasonal rains commenced in summer breeding areas in the Sahel between Mauritania and Chad and breeding conditions were improving because of the good rainfall. The report added that, isolated mature adults were reported in southern Mauritania and were probably present in Mali, Niger or Chad, but surveys were not undertaken in these countries. It also added that, small-scale breeding will occur in the northern Sahel during the forecast period, causing locust numbers to increase slightly. "No locusts were reported in Northwest Africa, except for isolated adults in northwest Libya.

In the Central Region, the report indicated that, scattered adults were reported in Sudan (Baiyuda) desert north of Khartoum and only limited surveys could be carried out in Sudan. During the next few months, the report stated that small-scale breeding will occur, causing locust numbers to increase slightly and it will be important to monitor the situation closely as good rainfalls during the period will make the conditions to improve for breeding and other locust activities.

On the weather and ecological conditions, the report stated that ecological conditions improved in the summer breeding areas in the Sahel of West Africa and Sudan where seasonal rains commenced during July 2007. "Good rains fell for a second month, along parts of the Red Sea Coast. Breeding conditions remained unusually favourable in the interior of Yemen. Ecological conditions are highly- improving," the report concluded.