Prime Minister Chairs Interministerial Meeting on Action Plan to Contain Locust Spread in the Southwest

Pursuant to the instructions of the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the Prime Minister, Mr. Sifi Ghrieb, chaired an interministerial meeting on Saturday. The meeting was devoted to evaluating the readiness level of the proactive action plan implemented to contain the spread of locusts in certain wilayas of the southwest, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's office.

This meeting, attended by the concerned Walis via videoconference, falls within the framework of the continuous assessment of risks regarding the spread of desert locusts. It also aims to monitor the evolving situation in the region, in accordance with updates from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and by leveraging national capabilities in satellite imagery, the same source specified.

The presentations delivered during the meeting highlighted the field readiness of the action plans developed for this purpose, which proved their effectiveness last year, the statement added. It emphasized the reinforcement of preparedness regarding monitoring and surveillance systems in the southern border wilayas—which constitute the first line of defense in locust control—as well as land and air intervention resources, particularly those belonging to the Ministry of National Defense.