MASERU - The World Food Programme (WFP) has received M55.5 million from the European Union (EU) to provide relief assistance to the most vulnerable people in Lesotho affected by drought and the socio economic impacts of COVID-19 pandemic.

The contribution is part of a larger EU grant of M87.3 million to support joined emergency response interventions led by WFP in conjunction with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the International Organisation of Migration (IOM).

“WFP will assist 34 000 severely food insecure people living in urban areas of the five worst affected districts by expanding the government’s Public Assistance Programme,” WFP said on Monday.

Each household will receive M831 per month through Mpesa, a mobile money platform, and the cash assistance will give them a choice to purchase what they need most at local markets.

“We thank the EU for their continuous support to the emergency response operations WFP is rolling out across the country to complement the government’s COVID-19 Food Security Response Plan,” said Aurore Rusiga, WFP’s Country Director in Lesotho.

WFP’s operations in Lesotho are only 23 per cent funded and require an additional 18.5 million pounds to assist communities affected by emergency levels of food insecurity and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The EU’s funding comes at a crucial time when over 40 per cent of the population across the country is experiencing acute food insecurity.

Food production has continued to decline for the third consecutive year whilst food prices have increased due to COVID-19 lockdown measures.

Border closures have severely reduced remittances and many migrant workers are returning to Lesotho after losing their jobs. Moreover, government’s COVID-19 Food Security Response Plan has estimated a resource gap of M643 million that hinders an adequate response to the emergency faced by the country.