Worldwide, drought has increased by almost one-third over the past twenty years. Both the number of drought periods and their duration have risen by 29 percent since the year 2000.
This has caused damage amounting to about 124 billion dollars, according to the new drought report from the United Nations.
The report was presented Wednesday at the 15th World Soil Conference in Abidjan, the capital of Ivory Coast, in West Africa. "Land is drying up, fertile soil is turning to dust," warned Ibrahim Thiaw, Secretary of the International Convention for the Protection of Soils (UNCCD). According to him, droughts are among the greatest threats to sustainable development.
While lack of water, loss of fertile soil, and ongoing drought have so far mainly affected underdeveloped countries, other regions are now increasingly being hit by drought as well. The United Nations calls the increasing drought in Europe a "wake-up call for Europeans."
The Netherlands is currently experiencing one of the driest springs ever, according to figures from the KNMI. The coming two weeks will remain warm, which has major consequences for agriculture and nature. Various measures are already being taken here and there.
For example, in Brabant there is a ban on pumping water from ditches and streams, and the Veluwemeer is receiving extra water from the Markermeer to prevent the water level from dropping too far.
According to the UN, this year about 160 million children have been exposed to severe and prolonged drought, and more than 2.3 billion people worldwide have insufficient access to water. It is estimated that in twenty years, one in four children worldwide could face water shortages.