Kitgum, Uganda - Recent (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of swarm of locusts flying in sky
2. Various of worker spraying insecticide
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Olum Quirino, local Council Chair, Orom Sub County, Kitgum (starting with shot 2):
"The worry is: they are saying these locusts when they land they may lay their eggs there, so when they lay eggs, within two weeks they will start hatching there then another locust will come out again."
4. Locust
5. Locusts on treetops
6. Various of worker spraying treetops
7. Farmers driving locusts away with sticks
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Charles Omwony, local Resident (starting with shot 7/ending with shot 9):
"In our place we tried to chase them, we burnt fire and we were telling children to stone them so that they fly, go away."
9. Various of children driving locusts away
10. Worker spraying insecticide
11. Various of locusts flying, sitting on trees
12. Farmers driving locusts away
13. Locusts flying

A new round of locust swarms have invaded north Uganda after sweeping across much of east Africa, threatening millions of lives with hunger in an already devastated region.

In the town of Kitgum in north Uganda, locusts have devastated almost every plant in the field, forming yellowish brown blankets on treetops.

Farmers in Northern Uganda are worried the insects could cause a devastating impact on their crops as they prepare to plant in the next season.

"The worry is: they are saying these locusts when they land they may lay their eggs there, so when they lay eggs, within two weeks they will start hatching there then another locust will come out again," said Olum Quirino, Council Chair of Kitgum.

The migratory pests can live for up to three months after laying eggs and once their eggs hatch, the young locusts can form even bigger swarms.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warns that swarms of locusts could double, unless urgent action is taken.

The Ugandan army is trying to fight them using motorized spray pumps.

The locusts are settling high up on tree tops where they can't be reached despite efforts to spray them. When the wind blows, the insects are swayed to different locations, further complicating the situation.

Locals have now resorted to shouting to scare the pests away.

"In our place we tried to chase them, we burnt fire and we were telling children to stone them so that they fly away," said Charles Omwony, local Resident.

The Ugandan government said that it will begin aerial spraying soon but the locusts are spreading fast, worsening fears of a possible food shortage in the months to come.

The United Nations (UN) Humanitarian office in Geneva estimates that a small swarm of locusts can consume the amount of food 35,000 people eat per day.

Moreover, this year's outbreak is expected to be the worst in decades, with seven East Africa countries being affected by the locust infestation, according to the FAO.