South Africa is today hosting and chairing the inaugural meeting of the Drought Core Group (DCG).
The meeting, which is underway at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in Tshwane, is attended by high level representatives such as the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Partnerships with Middle-East and Central Asia, Rashid Khalikov and the UN Secretary-General’s Humanitarian Envoy, Ahmad Al-Maraikhi.
The meeting is focusing on the outlook and risks for drought and famines on the African continent in 2018. It will also deliberate on the Terms of Reference and future strategy of the group.
“Through the DCG, the members will consolidate their support and leverage urgent international assistance to not only provide immediate relief to the affected people, but also to build their long term resilience,” DIRCO said on Wednesday.
The DCG is the outcome of the UN High-Level Partnership Mission, co-led by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the African Union Commission (AUC).
The DCG is a coalition of key humanitarian and development donors that has been formed to keep the focus and attention on the issue of tackling drought and preventing famines.
South Africa is the only African country that had participated in the High-Level Partnership Mission and subsequently stepped up its humanitarian support. South Africa’s chairing of today’s meeting is a recognition of its humanitarian efforts. – SAnews.gov.za
