The Lesotho Red Cross Society (LRCS) Drought Relief Project is currently engaged in a three-week distribution of fruits trees to the project beneficiaries from different areas in Mjanyane Community Council until next week.

The tree distribution which started in Sixondo is part of project activities for the claimants. It is funded by the International Federation of the Red Crescent (IFRC) and is implemented in response to the Prime Minister 's declaration of a nine - months state of food insecurity emergency that started in July.

The food insecurity declaration followed the 2023-24 Lesotho Vulnerability Assessment Committee (LVAC) report which revealed that more than 33 000 food insecure Basotho from Quthing district are among those over 700 000 from the countryside.

In an interview with the Agency, the LRCS Quthing Division Secretary, Ms. Lieketseng said each of the beneficiaries receive two trees; namely apple and peach trees, adding that they are received by beneficiaries that have dug pits for planting them to ensure that they are received by the right people who will protect them.

She highlighted that beneficiaries have been trained by the Department of Forestry on planting and protection of fruit trees before they receive such trees to ensure their protection.

Masunyane said the distribution of trees will be followed by distribution of vegetable seeds to the beneficial to have access to vegetables, and they will undergo vegetables production training to be facilitated by the Department of Agriculture Food Security and Nutrition.

She further said the project also entails training of youth and farmers of conservation agriculture, nutrition issues and food preservation.

The LRCS Quthing Division Secretary said beneficiaries have already received M1 500 each food procurement of a monthly nutritious food basket since last month and they will continue to receive the money for the month's period.

In an interview one of the beneficiaries Mrs. Matakatso Ntlai from Sixondo expressed gratitude for the project that has provided them with cash to buy food during difficult times, when family members had to sleep on an empty stomach due to lack of food.

She said drought has impacted negatively in her business of fire fire wood sale and home brewing. Mrs Nozukile Tyhali from Mjanyane said the project has played a vital role by providing them with cash to buy food when it was needed most and they were dying from hunger.

She appealed to the government to consider strategies to meet people aged between 60 and 70 as they are not recruited in any community employment to get cash for understanding family business.  This is the first food relief project to be implemented in the district following the Prime Minister declaration of state food insecurity.

The second project in which 1070 beneficiaries will receive cash assistance to purchase food from this month is implemented by World Vision in Telle Community Council. Another similar project to cover food relief beneficiaries from Tosing, Qomoqomong, Mphaki and Urban councils is expected to be implemented by the World Food Programme (WFP).