Desertification "is one of the most serious threats that humanity is facing. It is a global problem that affects one fifth of the world population in over 100 countries, with wide-ranging consequences". It was mentioned by the UN secretary general Kofi Annan on the occasion of the World Day for the fight against desertification and draught that is going to be celebrated tomorrow, June 17th, about "The beauty of the desert, the challenge of desertification”. "If we do not take action warns Annan it sounds like by 2020 about 60 million people will have to move from the new deserts of sub-Saharan Africa to north Africa and Europe, and across the world 135 million people risk being uprooted". Fighting desertification means to "eradicate the poverty" that it causes and "achieve sustainable development and the objectives of the Millennium". At the same time, warns the UN secretary general, there is also the "urgent" need to "protect the deserts that are viable ecosystems and have been the cradles of some of the culturally richest and oldest civilisations ever". This celebration day also coincides with the International Year of Deserts and Desertification and the tenth anniversary of the enforcement of the Convention against Desertification.
