The National Institute for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (INGD) reveals that the operationalization of the early warning system has helped the country mitigate the effects of drought in the 2023-24 period.

The information was provided by the president of INGD, Luísa Meque, who was speaking yesterday (07) in Maputo at the seminar to take stock of the process of implementing the drought early action plans.

"The pioneering strategy, implemented jointly, has reduced the number of people affected by drought, through the promotion of resilient water infrastructure, the allocation of agricultural inputs and adaptive social protection," she stressed, quoted by the Radio Mozambique.

Meanwhile, at the same meeting, the deputy director of the National Institute of Meteorology (INAM), Mussá Mustafa, assured that the institution would continue its efforts to disseminate early warning information to reduce the impact of natural phenomena on the population.

A report released by the United Nations (UN) revealed that Mozambique faced a severe drought last year, causing serious food security problems. "The country, which depends heavily on rainfed agriculture, saw a significant drop in agricultural production due to the lack of rainfall," the document pointed out.

According to the World Food Program (WFP), in addition to Mozambique, other countries in the region such as southern Africa, Angola, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, recorded the driest February in the last 100 years, receiving only 20% of the usual rainfall expected for this period, which coincided with the crucial time for crop growth," reads the note.

(Photo DR)