Droughts may affect more than three-quarters of the world’s population by 2050, the UN said Friday as World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed.
The day that is annually observed June 17 since 1995, focuses on changing public attitudes toward the leading driver of desertification and land degradation.
This year's theme, "Rising up from drought together," highlights the need for early action to avoid disastrous results for humanity and the environment.
Drought is a rising trend globally due to global warming and vanishing water resources, according to data compiled by Anadolu Agency from scientific findings and reports by international institutions.
Since 2000, the number and duration of droughts have risen 29%, according to a World Meteorological Organization (WMO) report in 2021.
Additionally, one in four children are expected to live in drought-hit regions by 2040, according to UNICEF.
