(Ecofin Agency) - The United Nations releases $465 million to address drought issues in the provinces of Huila, Namibe and Cunene in Angola. The financing will be disbursed over 4 years and will mainly focus on mitigating the effects of this problem on the affected populations.

“With this project, we intend, through a multi-sector work, to improve the capacities of the population in regard to the drought phenomenon,” said the UN resident co-ordinator in Angola, Pier Paolo Balladelli (pictured). He stressed that the project will cover not only the agriculture and water sectors but also education, environment and transports.

The UN has also signed a deal with Angola for the 2020-22 period on overcoming the social and economic challenges the country is facing and improving rural people’s resilience. ‘We want to stop the exodus of the rural population to the big cities and support primary development (education and health) and agricultural production for the families,” Balladelli explained.

Gwladys Johnson Akinocho