The African Development Bank (AfDB) has made 47 million dollars available to mitigate the impacts of drought in the arid and semi-arid areas of the south of the country.

The data was provided by the national director for the Development of Arid and Semi-Arid Zones at the National Institute for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (INGD), Paulo Tomás, during the celebrations this Saturday for World Day to Combat Drought and Desertification.

This money is being used to build 20 excavated reservoirs and 15 multi-functional boreholes.

The projects, which will benefit around 500,000 people, will be built in the districts of Magude, Moamba and Marracuene in Maputo province, Guijá, Chicualacuala, Mapai and Massangena in Gaza province and Mabote, Funhalouro and Panda in Inhambane province.