A swarm of 30 million locusts have overtaken Egypt Sunday (March 3), as Passover approaches. The bugs are causing damage with their infestation of Giza, just outside of Cairo.
Israel is placed on locust alert and Israel's Agriculture Ministry placed an emergency hotline in effect. Locusts are damaging to agriculture and can strip acres of crops. Israelis were asked to help prevent an outbreak by reporting any sightings. To prepare for the destructive bugs, Israel set up a task force to assist farmers with infestations. The country is getting prepared should the locusts arrive.
The migration pattern of the locusts is not uncommon and occurs each year. Locusts pass through Egypt from northeast Sudan to Saudi Arabia. Egyptian officials noted that although this year's swarm is larger than usual, the public should be assured that the crops were safe.
As reported by Alwatan News, officials asked local residents to not attempt to stop the swarm themselves.
"Egyptian armed forces and the border guards are attempting to fight the swarm with the means at their disposal," said Dr. Salah Abd Al Mamon, the Egyptian minister of agriculture. Crop fields are expected to be sprayed with pesticides in an effort to kill the locusts and keep them from eating the crops.
"I ask the families living in the locust-plagues areas not to burn tires. This does not chase away the locusts, but only causes damage and could ignite large-scale fires that would cost in lives," said Al Mamon. He also mentioned that strong winds were forecasted that would take the locusts toward the Red Sea and Saudi Arabia.
Some are comparing the locust plague to the similar biblical story in which a plague was cast on Egypt for the enslavement and abuse of ancient Hebrews.
(Edited by Lois Heyman)
