WINDHOEK, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- Officials and experts attending the first ever drought conference in Windhoek have urged Africa to plan in advance to deal with the effects of drought.
In her speech Monday, the UN Resident Coordinator in Namibia Kiki Gbeho has urged Africa to integrate climate change into national planning policies.
She said because response aid is insufficient, a longer term approach is required in order to build the resilience of the most vulnerable.
Daniel Tsegai, who is program officer with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, said if Africa does nothing, the continent has to face the bitter consequences.
"The time to act is now to move from a piecemeal approach to a coordinated approach," Tsegai said.
The weeklong conference that started Monday is expected to produce a white paper titled Strategic Framework for Drought and Enhancing Resilience to Drought in Africa.
The draft strategic framework will then be presented to the African Ministers for consideration and input during a high level session.
Once agreed on, the framework will be presented at the next African Union summit to the heads of state for adoption.
