24 May 1988

12th plenary meeting

Fight against the locust and grasshopper infestation in Africa

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 41/185 of 8 December 1986 and Council resolution 1988/2 of 5 February 1988,

Deeply concerned at the magnitude and gravity of the present locust and grasshopper infestation in Africa,

Alarmed by the unrelenting destructive effects of the locust and grasshopper infestation on many African countries,

Fully aware of the urgent need to spare no effort to counter and eradicate the infestation, as well as the need to take adequate preventive measures against future outbreaks,

Noting that the resources of Africa are insufficient to control the infestation, which will need to be countered by concerted efforts at the national, regional and international levels,

1. Expresses its deep concern at the worsening desert locust and grasshopper infestation in Africa, which may adversely affect food production and cause renewed famine, and reaffirms the need to accord the highest priority to locust and grasshopper control and eradication;

2. Notes with appreciation the efforts of affected countries, donors and regional and international organizations, in particular, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, acting individually and jointly, to contain the infestation;

3. Urges donors to increase financial and technical assistance for current and future programmes of locust and grasshopper control, in keeping with the increased requirements of the evolving situation;

4. Calls upon the international community to support fully the locust and grasshopper control activities undertaken by African countries, including information gathering and dissemination, prevention, co-ordination and funding, as well as the strengthening and establishment of national, regional and international early warning systems for the monitoring of locust and grasshopper infestations;

5. Supports the efforts of the Maghreb countries within the framework of their joint programme of co-ordination to fight against locust and grasshopper infestation, and invites those countries willing to participate in the eradication of that scourge to contribute resources to the common fund established for that purpose by the Governments of Algeria, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia;

6. Invites the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in close co-operation with the relevant organizations of the United Nations system, to undertake an assessment of the prevailing techniques used in the fight against locust and grasshopper infestation, with a view to identifying and applying more effective and environmentally sound methods;

7. Invites the appropriate bodies, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system to give the necessary priority, in their regular activities, to the fight against the locust and grasshopper infestation in Africa;

8. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, to take the necessary measures in this regard;

9. Invites the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to keep the situation under constant review and to strengthen that organization's capabilities with regard to the overall co-ordination of the Emergency Centre for Locust Operations;

10. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to the General Assembly at its forty-third session the texth of the report of the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to be made to the Council at its second regular session of 1988.