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Lesotho

Lesotho: Food Crisis OCHA Situation Report No. 1

SITUATION OVERVIEW

1. Lesotho experienced one of its worst drought conditions in history, leading to a 40 - 50 percent decrease in cereal production as compared to 2005/06 agricultural season. The total national cereal production (maize, sorghum, and wheat) was projected at 72,000 tons to feed population that need about 328,000 tons.

2. The combined temperature and rainfall indices show one of the worst situations of drought ever experienced in the country. January, February and March 2007 in particular were found to be very dry months causing large scale damage to growing crops.

3. A significant proportion of the rural population in the country particularly those small scale farmers and households whose livelihoods are agricultural based are most affected and already experiencing shocks as a direct result of decreased production and rising prices.

4. The drought was most accentuated in the lowlands and foothills, where the main cereal production areas are located. The general trend also reveals a decline in planted area of cereals over the past few years, with potential farmland left uncultivated mainly due to the uncertainties of agro-climatic conditions, shortage of farm labour and lack of cash-flow for inputs and investment.

5. Small scale farmers and those households whose livelihoods are agricultural based, will be most affected in the main crop production zones and will experience transitory food insecurity during the period July 2007 until the next harvest (if not followed by another drought season) in May 2008.

6. The situation analysis reports (FAO/WFP, June 2007, Lesotho Vulnerability Assessement Committee report, July 2007) estimate that between 400,000 and 550,000 out of population of 1.8 million will require immediate humanitarian assistance, with many households having already exhausted their coping mechanisms.

7. This situation of successive crop failure, poverty and hunger is aggravated by the impact HIV/AIDS. Those living with HIV/AIDS (around 270,000 people) remain to suffer most from food shortage.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

8. On July 9, 2007, the Prime Minister issued a Declaration of an Emergency Food Security situation in Lesotho and called development partners and the international community to assist Lesotho and address and redress the emergency situation.

9. The Disaster Management Authority (DMA), the coordinating body for emergency, disaster preparedness reduction and management, is closely coordinating its response with the responsible line ministries, local NGOs and the international community and has already organized several key sector meetings with all partners active in these sectors.

10. The GoL recently allocated a total of M135 million ($19 million) to respond to the drought of which M87 million (US$12 million) to large cash-for-work projects through land reclamation, and M45 million ($6 million) to agricultural activities. Government plans for the provision of a general subsidy for maize meal are almost finalised.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

11. In response to the current livelihood crisis triggered by the drought, the Resident Coordinator has called for international assistance to help Lesotho in providing assistance to the most vulnerable.

12. The UN and its partners will be assisting Lesotho through the establishment of a strategic framework in the form of an inter-agency flash appeal.

13. A regional multidisciplinary team led by OCHA is in the country to assess and assist in the elaboration of the appropriate coordination and resource mobilization strategy in close cooperation with the government.

14. The mission facilitated the application of FAO, UNICEF, and WFP to the rapid response window of the Central Emergency Response Fund, which was approved yesterday for a total of $3.8 million in order to jumpstart key humanitarian relief activities in the following sectors: agriculture, food, health, and water & sanitation.

COORDINATION

15. The Disaster Management Authority (DMA), assisted by WFP, FAO, UNICEF, LVAC and NGO partners, is in charge of the operational coordination at the national, district and community levels in order to further strengthen targeting and implementation of the response activities.

16. The UN Country Team, led by the RC, has been working with the regional mission members to ensure inter-agency coordination through updates, briefs and regular meetings. The mission worked in close cooperation with relevant government line ministries, departmental authorities, NGOs working on emergency activities, and key resident donors to forge partnerships and reach agreement on a common humanitarian action plan for emergency response to the crisis.

ASSISTANCE REQUESTED

17. An estimated $18.5 million is required by international organisations (UN and NGOs) in addition to the allocated CERF funds to assist the people hardest hit by the drought through targeted activities in the following key sectors: food, agriculture, health, nutrition, water & sanitation, protection and early recovery.

MAP: Lesotho: Location Map

Contact Details:

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officer (New York): Ms. Aida Mengistu, Tel: + 1-917-367-5145

Press contact:
(Geneva) Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, Tel. +41-22-917 2653
(New York) Ms. Stephanie Bunker, Tel: +1-917-367-5126

This situation report, together with additional information on the current crisis is also available on http://www.reliefweb.int. As your tool for timely information sharing, please encourage submissions of documents and maps by email to submit@reliefweb.int.

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