By: Masha Medvedkov, Posted: Jun 16 09

Regions: Global

Issues: Environment, Sustainable development, Water

Tags: climate change, climate refugees, desertification, drought, environmental degradation, Farming, land degradation, migration, thirst

Today is World Day to Combat Desertification and the 2009 theme is "Conserving land and water = Securing our common future. "

This year marks the 15th anniversary of when the United Nations adopted the Convention to Combat Desertification and opened it for signature - the convention then entered into force in 1996.

Desertification and drought are gravely affecting populations all over the world. 

What is Desertification?

In this first video, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification answers this question.

This second video, by Voice of America, explores how desertification affects farmers in Senegal.

In this last video, Aljazeera reports on the Atacama Desert in Chile and the struggle for water.