The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) have kicked-off the 2013 global campaign to drought preparedness and risk management on 13 March during the High-level Meeting on National Drought Policy, which takes place on 11-15 March 2013 in Geneva.
“Droughts have devastating effects on people, on livelihoods, the economy. However, current response to drought is too little and too late. We are starting a global campaign on raising awareness by calling to set up policies, mechanisms and systems that will pre-empt future devastating impacts of drought. Our call is “Do not let our future dry up”, said UNCCD Executive Secretary Luc Gnacadja.
The event under the title “Practical Steps to Drought Preparedness and Risk Management” kicked off the 2013 World Day to Combat Desertification, the UN Decade for Deserts and the Fight against Desertification and the UN Decade on Biodiversity. During the event, moderated by Mohammed Bazza from the Food and Agriculture Organization, FUNCEME, UNDP Drylands Development Center, Convention on Biodiversity and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have presented the best practices of building resilience to desertification and drought.
