Riyadh: The National Center for the Prevention and Control of Plants Pests and Animal Diseases (Weqaa Center), the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region have signed a handover record for logistical support provided by Saudi Arabia to the commission's emergency fund.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the support aims to bolster efforts to combat desert locusts across the region, thereby safeguarding plant resources and ensuring food security. The signing was attended by Weqaa Center CEO Aymen Al-Ghamdi.

The logistical support package includes 40 modern devices and pieces of equipment, 8,250 safety items, and 100 tons of essential pest-control materials. This initiative is designed to enhance rapid-response capabilities and maintain the highest safety standards for personnel involved in control operations within the commission's member countries.

Weqaa Center emphasized that this support is part of Saudi Arabia's broader efforts to support regional and international initiatives focused on achieving food security and reducing the impact of cross-border disasters and pests through preventive solutions and logistical and technical assistance.

The initiative is also aimed at protecting agricultural resources, improving countries' preparedness to tackle desert locust-related challenges, and preserving the region's environmental achievements. Furthermore, it aligns with Saudi Arabia's strategic approach to sustainable agricultural production and strengthens partnerships with international organizations to enable early control of economically significant plant pests.