TEHRAN (IP) - The ceremony to mark the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought was held in Tehran, with representatives of the West Asia’s embassies, International Civilization and a group of researchers and scholars in attendance on Thursday.
The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is a United Nations observance celebrated each year on 17 June. Its purpose is to raise awareness about desertification and drought, to highlight methods to preventing desertification and to recover from drought.
Drought is among the greatest threats to sustainable development, especially in developing countries, and it is considered much as the same in developed countries as well. In fact, forecasts estimate that by 2050 droughts may affect over three-fourth of the world’s population.
The number and duration of droughts has increased by 29 percent since 2000, as compared to the two previous decades, said the World Meteorological Organization Report 2021. When more than 2.3 billion people have already faced pressure due to water-related problems; this is a huge problem. More and more of us will be living in areas with extreme water shortages, including an estimated one in four children by 2040, said the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).
Meanwhile according to the United Nations World Water Development Report 2021, no country is immune to drought.
This year, the theme of the International World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, which is “Rising up from Drought together”, emphasises the need of an early action to avoid disastrous consequences for humanity and the planetary ecosystems.