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Feb. 21, 2019

STAFF REPORTER

2 min read

Lesotho/Japan sign M19 mln project deal

Lesotho/Japan sign M19 mln project deal

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Japan will donate M19 million to Lesotho through World Food Programme (WFP) towards food aid, especially to beef up WFP funding shortfalls in support of school feeding programme. Speaking at the signing ceremony of increasing support of Japan to Lesotho in Maseru on Monday, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations Lesego Makgothi said the agreement was a commitment that the food donation in the form of wheat flour would reach Basotho from all corners of Lesotho who cannot afford to buy wheat flour from local retailers.

According to Minister Counsellor of the Embassy of Japan Shuichiro Kawaguchi Japan is aware of serious food shortage in rural areas of Lesotho. “We realise that Lesotho is currently experiencing lower rainfall levels than average and this has already affected planting and increased the risk of low yields during the upcoming harvest. Dry conditions are a result from El Nino and it seems that El Nino will be continuing for a while',” he said. The WFP Country Director Mary Njoroge said: “Provision of school meals curbs poor nutrition and food insecurity that make children more vulnerable, especially given that school feeding is one of the largest safety nets programmes in the country. Majority of learners assisted by WFP come from rural areas with high rates of malnutrition, HIV prevalence and food insecurity.” Japan has also decided to implement a new food aid through the WFP which is approximately M19 million for the purpose of procurement of about 200 tons of tinned fish from Japan. The tinned fish will be distributed mainly to schools all over Lesotho to improve the nutritional condition of the school children.

 

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Japan has also agreed to assist Lesotho with a US$500,000.00 (M7 million) contribution towards the second Lesotho Border Security Project which will be implemented through the International Office of Migration (IMO). “We are indeed grateful for the continuous support on economic development activities, food and safety security, skills development, environmental issues, research and development, and clean energy technology which we receive from Japan,” said Makgothi.

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