Uganda has deployed soldiers to help combat one of the worst locust infestations in the region for decades, with the UN warning the international community about a possible catastrophe.

After the locusts were first seen in Uganda on Sunday, an emergency meeting of the government decided to use military forces to help with efforts to protect crops through pesticides.

Two planes will also be used to spray pesticides from the air.

Locusts have already destroyed crops in Kenya in the country’s worst infestation for 70 years. The swarms also pose a threat to other countries in the region, including Ethiopia and Somalia.

According to the UN, an average swarm of 40 million insects is able to travel 150 km in a day and eat enough food to feed 34 million people.

Locust swarms threaten catastrophe for farmers in East Africa Show all 14 1 /14 Locust swarms threaten catastrophe for farmers in East Africa Locust swarms threaten catastrophe for farmers in East Africa Local farmer Theophilus Mwendwa runs through a swarm of desert locusts to chase them away in Kitui County, Kenya EPA Locust swarms threaten catastrophe for farmers in East Africa A farmer's son walks through a swarm of locusts in Kitui County, Kenya AP Locust swarms threaten catastrophe for farmers in East Africa Locusts swarm on a highway at Lerata village in Kenya AFP/Getty Locust swarms threaten catastrophe for farmers in East Africa Local farmer Theophilus Mwendwa runs through a swarm of desert locusts to chase them away in Kitui County, Kenya EPA Locust swarms threaten catastrophe for farmers in East Africa Local farmer Theophilus Mwendwa runs through a swarm of desert locusts to chase them away in Kitui County, Kenya EPA Locust swarms threaten catastrophe for farmers in East Africa A man chases away a swarm of desert locusts in Kitui County, Kenya EPA Locust swarms threaten catastrophe for farmers in East Africa A farmer walks among a swarm of locusts on grazing land in Galmudug region, Somalia Reuters Locust swarms threaten catastrophe for farmers in East Africa Somali farmers on Saturday urged their government and the international community to help protect their crops from an invasion of locusts that is leaving many unable to feed their families Reuters Locust swarms threaten catastrophe for farmers in East Africa A desert locust plucked from the swarm on farmland in Galmudug region, Somalia Reuters Locust swarms threaten catastrophe for farmers in East Africa The insects have already destroyed 175,000 acres of farmland in Somalia and neighbouring Ethiopia, threatening food supplies in both countries in the worst locust invasion in 70 years, the Food and Agriculture Organisation said on Wednesday Reuters Locust swarms threaten catastrophe for farmers in East Africa A farmer lifts a ketle among a swarm of locusts on grazing land in Galmudug region, Somalia Reuters Locust swarms threaten catastrophe for farmers in East Africa Farmers lift a plastic sheeting to fend off a swarm of locusts on grazing land in Galmudug region, Somalia Reuters Locust swarms threaten catastrophe for farmers in East Africa Boys attempt to fend off a swarm of locusts on farmland in Galmudug region, Somalia Reuters Locust swarms threaten catastrophe for farmers in East Africa Farmers watch on as swarm of locusts descends on grazing land in Galmudug region, Somalia Reuters

Mark Lowcock, the UN’s top humanitarian official, said: “In this region where there is so much suffering and so much vulnerability and fragility, we simply cannot afford another major shock. And that’s why we need to act quickly.”

Mr Lowcock added “unusually heavy rains” and cyclones had been favourable for locust breeding.

It is estimated that 19 million people risk suffering severe food insecurity in east Africa.

Lazarus O Amayo, Kenya’s UN Ambassador, warned there might be a risk of conflict as herders moved in search of new pasture.

“The herders will have a real challenge of pasture, and this may also cause movement from one place to another in search of pasture, with inherent risk of communal conflict over pasture or grazing land or passing territories,” he said.

UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recently set up a $76 million appeal to control the problem. So far, around $20 million has been donated to the fund.

Half of this figure comes from a UN emergency fund. The US and the EU gave contributions of $800,000 and $1,091,295 (€1m) respectively.

FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu said: “Without rapid action, we will be facing a rapidly expanding humanitarian crisis. The Desert Locust swarms are growing exponentially.”