MASERU – The government of Lesotho needs over a M1billion to address the country's emergency needs from December, 2019 to May, 2020, Prime Minister Motsoahae Thabane has said.
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Dec. 16, 2019
STAFF REPORTER
2 min read
Lesotho in dire need of emergency aid
Prime Minister Motsoahae Thabane
This, Mr Thabane revealed when delivering an official statement on humanitarian assistance on Monday.
He said a total sum of M1, 165 675 698 would be sourced from government coffers while the government sought aid from the international community and development partners.
The money, he said would procure water equipment and accessories, vaccinations, emergency food supplies, emergency medical supplies, agricultural inputs and to undertake various development works identified as necessary for meeting the immediate needs of the affected population.
He said the food security crisis of the already identified 508, 125 vulnerable people were expected to worsen as the season progressed into 2020.
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He added that vulnerable groups including people living with HIV and AIDS, orphans and vulnerable Children (OVC), malnourished children under the age of five, pregnant and lactating mothers, disabled persons and vulnerable able-bodied persons would mostly be affected.
The government on October 30 declared the country to be in a drought emergency. The Lesotho Meteorological Services (LMS) weather outlook 2019/2020 shows the country should expect predominantly dry weather conditions from October to December coupled with high temperatures.
The outlook further indicates an improved rainfall situation going into January to March 2020.
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