LUSAKA, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations (UN) announced Monday that it is preparing a response plan to support households affected by drought in Zambia.

       Beatrice Mutali, the UN resident coordinator in Zambia, said that the UN family is gearing up to assist with the drought, which has impacted 84 districts in seven of the country's 10 provinces.

       The organization has developed a multi-hazard preparedness and response plan to help Zambia address challenges posed by the onset of El-Nino conditions and climate change, Mutali said in a statement.

       She expressed hope that the government would launch a humanitarian appeal, enabling the UN to mobilize about 30 million U.S. dollars for humanitarian support, livelihood recovery and resilience building for more than 1 million households.

       Last week, President Hakainde Hichilema declared a national state of disaster and emergency to facilitate a swift response to the prolonged drought, which threatens national food security and electricity supplies.