Lesotho declares food crisis

JOHANNESBURG – The impoverished African kingdom of Lesotho has declared an official food crisis after bad harvests left more than 400 000 people in need of food aid, said a United Nations agency.

The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Lesotho’s government had declared a food security emergency based on the UN reports showing a “major food gap” affecting a fifth of the population. UN emergency relief co-ordinator John Holmes said: “The situation is critical for those already living on the edge, struggling to cope with the combined impact of successive crop failures, poverty and HIV/Aids.”The international community must respond rapidly to assist the government in averting a crisis.”UNAids said about 270 000 people – making up 14% of Lesotho’s population – were infected with HIV, giving it one of the worst Aids crises in the world.The food crunch was triggered by the country’s worst drought in more than 30 years, which OCHA said had cut the staple maize crop harvest by more than 40%.Close to 328 000 tons of cereals were now needed to feed hungry people in the country, which only harvested a meagre 72 000 tons of cereals during its last harvest, down from 126 000 tons last year.Sparse supplies, and reduced harvests in neighbouring SA, the regional supplier, had helped to push prices beyond the reach of many in Lesotho, which was one of the poorest countries in the region.Lesotho’s crisis had spurred wider calls for food aid to other parts of southern Africa.The UN said more than five million people in the region, including up to four million in Zimbabwe alone, were expected to need food assistance due to drought this year.Nampa-ReutersUN emergency relief co-ordinator John Holmes said: “The situation is critical for those already living on the edge, struggling to cope with the combined impact of successive crop failures, poverty and HIV/Aids.”The international community must respond rapidly to assist the government in averting a crisis.”UNAids said about 270 000 people – making up 14% of Lesotho’s population – were infected with HIV, giving it one of the worst Aids crises in the world.The food crunch was triggered by the country’s worst drought in more than 30 years, which OCHA said had cut the staple maize crop harvest by more than 40%.Close to 328 000 tons of cereals were now needed to feed hungry people in the country, which only harvested a meagre 72 000 tons of cereals during its last harvest, down from 126 000 tons last year.Sparse supplies, and reduced harvests in neighbouring SA, the regional supplier, had helped to push prices beyond the reach of many in Lesotho, which was one of the poorest countries in the region.Lesotho’s crisis had spurred wider calls for food aid to other parts of southern Africa.The UN said more than five million people in the region, including up to four million in Zimbabwe alone, were expected to need food assistance due to drought this year.Nampa-Reuters