Rome, 22 January, 2009 -- Caterpillars, suspected to be African armyworms (Spodoptera spp) are currently advancing across the Liberian border with Guinea. They have appeared in northern Liberia, destroying crops and vegetation, sending terrified villagers fleeing from their homes, and raising the spectre of a food, health and environmental emergency in West Africa. Here is a fresh report from FAO Representative in Liberia, Dr Winfred Hammond, on an emergency coordination visit to the FAO Sub-regional Office, Accra, Ghana, this week: