Algeria to Finalize National Plan to Combat Drought by 2018-End

The national plan to combat drought will be finalized by the end of 2018 and would be implemented as from 2019, said Wednesday in Algiers the General Director of Forestry, Ali Mahmoudi.

The plan is being drafted by Algerian expert Safar Zaitoun, designated by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), in partnership with national bodies and research centers concerned, Mahmoudi told the press on the sidelines of a meeting on the initiative launched by the UN body.

The meeting was an opportunity to present and discuss the draft national plan proposed by the expert to address the issue of drought.
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As part of this plan, which is in line with the implementation of the decisions adopted at the COP13, held in China's Ordos in September 2017, the UN would grant its aid to 34 most affected countries by drought and desertification.

Among these 34 countries, twenty are African countries, including Algeria.

The UNCCD's initiative aims at helping those countries to strengthen their capacity to combat drought through concrete actions.

The plan will also provide for the creation of a national body to coordinate information and identify the drought-stricken areas and means to get prepared for drought.