The United Nations (UN) donated $8 600 000 to Lesotho, to assist more than 508125 people who are food insecure, due to severe drought Lesotho experienced last year.

Speaking in Maseru yesterday, the UN Resident Coordinator to Lesotho Mr. Salvator Niyonzima, said due to the rains that came too late for the planting season last year, the valleys, the hills and the mountains of Lesotho are currently green and beautiful, with grass more than maize and beans.

He said in October 2019, the Government of Lesotho declared a state of emergency as the situation deteriorated, and data indicated that about 508 125 people in Lesotho, would be severely food insecure between October last year and March this year.

Niyonzima further indicated that the European Union (EU), is now contributing US$1 626 000, that will assist a further 22 000 people in Lesotho, through an on-going drought response program by the World Food Program (WFP).

WFP Representative and Country Director Ms. Mary Njoroge, said the EU’s contribution has allowed them to expand on-going emergency drought assistance, to an additional 22 105 people in the districts of Mafeteng, Mohale’s Hoek, Quthing and Qacha’s Nek for a period of six months.

In her remarks she said they are now providing 1 200 households with a combination of cash and locally procured in-kind food, and each household is provided with M756 per month through M-Pesa accounts.

According to Njoroge from this amount M404.00 is for food and M350.00 is cash via mobile money that can be used for other household’s requirements.

She said to execute this plan they establish a network of WFP contracted local retailer merchants who already operate in the targeted communities.

On a monthly, the local retailers provide prescribed food commodities that ensure a balanced and nutritious diet for households.

The food received includes maize meal, easy bake flour, fortified cooking oil and iodized salt and the retailers are paid post-delivery each month.