India yesterday donated 500 metric tannes of rice to the Kingdom of Lesotho, in Southern Africa, which is facing acute food shortage due to famine.

High Commissioner of India to South Africa and Lesotho, Ruchira  handed over the donation to the government of Lesotho, a tiny landlocked kingdom completely surrounded by South Africa, after she presented her credentials to King Letsie III in the country's capital, Maseru.

Ruchira said this  gift of rice is a manifestation of the concern of the people of India for the people of Lesotho and their desire to help their brothers and sisters mitigate the devastating effects of food shortages caused by famine and other acts of nature.

India has appointed a single concurrent  High Commissioner for South Africa and Lesotho since diplomatic relations with South Africa were resumed in 1994 after a break of more than four decades.