World Vision launches ECHO-funded project to improve disaster preparedness and response in Lesotho’s rural districts
Maseru, 31 July 2018 – In the recent past Lesotho suffered from severe weather, such as the El Nino induced drought, localized flash floods and severe hail and snow storms. These events have affected the most vulnerable households in Lesotho due to loss of crops, livelihoods and shelter, and has reduced their resilience to recover from adverse weather events.
Therefore, World Vision Lesotho partners with the Lesotho Red Cross to improve disaster preparedness and response in Lesotho's rural districts of Mokhotlong and Qacha's Nek, through an 18 months project funded by the European Commission’s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO).
The EU funded project, beginning in May this year will improve disaster preparedness and response of 10,000 beneficiaries, especially the most vulnerable - children, the elderly, women, vulnerable recipients of the government social grants, emergency and development community structure members, government representatives at all levels and people with disabilities, as they may suffer specific disadvantages in coping with disasters.
Increasing resilience of vulnerable households
Previous assessments have shown that the major drivers of the vulnerability of the poor and very poor households are no access to information and services regarding early warning, lack of knowledge on usage of the information, non-existence of Community Disaster Preparedness Plans (CDPP) and centralized government initiatives towards Shock Responsive Social Protection. The situation leaves the population of Lesotho unprepared for any shocks or hazards. In order to increase the resilience of vulnerable households in Lesotho, it is key to assist communities to increase their capacity to address the most urgent situations of vulnerability to reduce the impact from disaster on their lives.
“Improved emergency preparedness, including timely availability of weather information and action plans will help communities, government and local stakeholders to prepare and respond more effectively to natural hazards in a coordinated way,” Mamello Tsekoa, World Vision Lesotho's Senior Programs Officer. “The project will strengthen local capacity to be prepared for disasters and more effectively identify and address the needs of vulnerable communities, enhance enabling environment for multi-purpose cash transfer programming; as well as reaching the vulnerable households affected by rapid onset climate related shocks during the project lifetime”, Tsekoa adds.
Building on World Vision Lesotho and Lesotho Red Cross Society experience in addressing Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation issues in the Southern Africa this project will consolidate successful implementation procedures and enforce lessons learned for a sound impact. The project will be overseen and monitored by World Vision Austria.
About the organisations:
European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO):
The European Union with its Member States is a leading global donor of Humanitarian Aid. Through the European Commission's Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO), the EU helps over 120 million victims of conflict and disasters every year. With headquarters in Brussels and a global network of field offices, ECHO provides assistance to the most vulnerable people solely on the basis of humanitarian needs, without discrimination of race, ethnic group, religion, gender, age, nationality or political affiliation.
World Vision:World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization conducting relief, development, and advocacy activities in its work with children, families, and their communities in nearly 100 countries to help them reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.
Red Cross: The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is an international humanitarian movement with approximately 17 million volunteers, members and staff worldwide which was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human beings, and to prevent and alleviate human suffering.
For further information please contact:
Atang Likotsi,
Communication Officer,
World Vision Lesotho,
Private Bag A256, Maseru 100, Lesotho,
Cell Phone +266 57589468
Telephone +266 22317371
Tokoloho Khutsoane,
Communication Officer,
Lesotho Red Cross,
23 Mabile Road
Private Bag A205, Maseru 100, Lesotho.
Cell: +266 5872 0960
Telephone +266 2231 3911
Email: tokoloho@redcross.org.ls