Lubango - The United Nations (UN) has mobilised three million US dollars over the next six months to support communities affected by drought in the south of the country, in Huíla and Cunene provinces, through the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).
The information was given this Monday in Lubango by the resident coordinator of the United Nations System in Angola, Zahira Virani, at the opening of the workshop on "Sustainable Soil Management as an Instrument to Combat Desertification" as part of the 17th June World Day to Combat Desertification, under the slogan "United for the Earth, Our Legacy, Our Future", organised by the Ministry of the Environment.
Zahira Virani stressed that this amount had been mobilised by the UN as part of the response to the drought, under the tutelage of the Rapid Emergency Response Fund, which complements the government's efforts to support the most affected populations in Huíla and Cunene.
She also pointed out that the Central Emergency Fund will support two UN agencies, namely UNICEF and the World Food Programme (WFP), to provide an immediate response and support to the affected families.
She explained that UNICEF will start with the implementation of water and sanitation points, while the WFP will provide food, prioritising children and families affected by malnutrition, because the drought has affected agriculture, so it is necessary to think about projects to mitigate and adapt to the situation in the medium and long term.
"Unfortunately, climate change is affecting the whole of southern Africa, including Angola, and in the last three years that I've been in the country, I've heard that each year the drought gets worse, but the organisation of this event demonstrates the Angolan government's commitment to the 2030 Agenda and the sustainable development goals, which aim to protect life on land, including the fight against desertification," she said.
UN coordinator in Angola emphasised that the advance of desertification "is an undeniable reality" in Angola, as in recent years the country has faced prolonged periods of drought, especially in the southern provinces.
She said that the situation has worsened food insecurity, reduced the availability of drinking water and increased the vulnerability of rural communities, because desertification and soil degradation jeopardise their ability to produce food and maintain their livelihoods, creating a vicious cycle of poverty and inequality.
On this World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, he called on everyone to unite in this cause, from community leaders to individual citizens, to ensure that future generations can find a more beautiful and prosperous country. BP/MS/DAN/DOJ
