World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

17
June 2020

In 1994, the United Nations General Assembly declared (General Assembly Resolution A/RES/49/115) June 17 the "World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought" to promote public awareness of the issue, and the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa. The World Day to Combat Desertification has been observed since 1995 to promote public awareness relating to international cooperation to combat desertification and the effects of drought. Desertification is one of the most alarming global processes of environmental degradation. It threatens the lives of over one billion people across the world. A total of $12 billion worth of agricultural products are lost to desertification and drought. A drought is a period of below-average precipitation in a given region, resulting in prolonged shortages in its water supply, whether atmospheric, surface water or ground water. A drought can last for months or years, or may be declared after as few as 15 days. Drought leads to the severe dehydration of soil and ruined crops.

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