World Vision and ECHO Launch El Niño Emergency Response to Combat Food Insecurity in Lesotho
For Immediate Release
October 9, 2024 - Maseru, Lesotho - As Lesotho faces an escalating food crisis brought on by El Niño-induced drought, World Vision International Lesotho, in partnership with European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), has launched a multi-district food insecurity response to address the growing emergency. The response forms part of a broader El Niño emergency intervention aimed at delivering life-saving aid to vulnerable communities severely impacted by the adverse climate conditions.
Across ten districts, this extensive response will provide food assistance, disaster risk reduction training, and support for sustainable livelihoods to families most affected by the drought. According to the Lesotho Vulnerability Assessment Committee (LVAC), approximately 403,000 Basotho, including a significant proportion of children, are projected to face acute food insecurity from October 2024 to March 2025, with 27% of the rural population falling under Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) 3, signaling the critical need for urgent action.
As part of this nationwide intervention, World Vision is working to prevent hunger, malnutrition, and the degradation of livelihoods, while laying the foundation for long-term recovery and resilience against future climate shocks. This multifaceted response will encompass immediate food aid, capacity-building efforts, and ongoing community support in partnership with the Government of Lesotho and other key stakeholders.
Mohale’s Hoek Response
In line with this national effort, World Vision will begin a localized food distribution response in Mohale’s Hoek, one of the four districts most severely impacted. The launch will take place at Likalaneng village on October 10, 2024, starting at 10 AM. This initial response will target 45 households across six villages, providing critical food packages to alleviate the immediate nutritional needs of families, particularly children, during this drought-induced crisis.
Two distribution points have been established at Likalaneng and Ha-Motloang, where the affected families will receive food support. These efforts are aimed at preventing further hunger and malnutrition among vulnerable households, while supporting the broader objective of strengthening resilience and ensuring sustainable food security in the face of ongoing climate stressors.
This ECHO-funded intervention is a testament to World Vision’s commitment to addressing food insecurity, particularly during natural disasters and emergencies. The Mohale’s Hoek response is just one step in a larger, coordinated effort to provide relief, protection, and hope to the many Basotho families at risk during this challenging period.
ENDS.
Note to editor
For more information contact:
Lerato Brown, Communications and Marketing Manager, WVIL lerato_brown@wvi.org +266 58911020 or Lineo Monalana, Advocacy, Policy& Communications Officer (ECHO) lineo_monalana@wvi.org +266 59544750
About World Vision
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organisation dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities to reach their full potential by tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, please visit www.wvi.org/lesotho or follow us on Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn