AUC Urges African Countries to Take Advantage of Schemes of ARC to Reduce Disaster
The African Union Commission (AUC) has called on African governments to take advantage of schemes of the African Risk Capacity (ARC) to save the lives and livelihoods of the most disaster vulnerable population.
In a press briefing he gave yesterday, AUC Deputy Chairperson Ambassador Thomas Kwesi Quartey said the increased frequency of extreme weather events driven by climate change have increased the risk of hunger and malnutrition in Africa.
“The images we often see of starving people in Africa must stop. Chronic hunger, malnutrition and destitution across the continent are not acceptable. We must break out this cycle as there are modern financial tools which can use to help us respond earlier,” Quartey said.
According to him, AUC established the specialized agency, African Risk Capacity (ARC), to provide prompt funds in the event of natural disaster when and where it is needed most for participating African governments.
Senegal, Niger, Mauritania and Malawi have already been beneficiaries of the ARC scheme.
Sarah Farhat / World Bank