CERF allocates $ 1.6 million to mitigate severe malnutirition in Lesotho
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| A boy in Lesotho [Photo: WFP] |
20 August 2008: Rising global food prices are having a severe negative impact on over 350,000 people in Lesotho. The inability to meet basic food requirements is contributing to malnutrition and has left farming households highly vulnerable to food insecurity.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is using a CERF grant to respond to the agricultural needs of people adversely affected by the increased food prices in Lesotho. It is enabling the provision and delivery of agricultural seeds and tools for 12,000 farming households across Lesotho.
A CERF grant is making it possible for the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) to address gender-based violence stemming from the food price crisis. During such crisis, food becomes a valuable commodity, and a lack of it could result in sexual exploitation and gender-based violence. Sex for cash and sex for cash favours is another problem arising during crisis situations. UNFPA is supporting awareness and advocacy for the prevention of gender-based violence while providing post-rape kits for those in need.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is managing severe malnutrition resulting from the lack of access to essential food using CERF funds. It is providing supplies to therapeutic feeding programmes for severe malnutrition cases in hospitals while strengthening the ability of medical staff to manage cases. The project will benefit over 42,000 children.
[Last update: 27 August 2008]
CERF allocates $ 240,000 for emergency control of anthrax in Lesotho
19 March: On 6 February 2008, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security received reports about animals dying of an unknown disease in several villages in and around the Maseru District. The deaths were later confirmed through laboratory testing conducted by the Ministry of Health to be caused by anthrax.
Since the first reports, anthrax has broken out in 26 villages in the districts of Maseru and Mafeteng. A total of 379 animal cases have been reported out of which 91% have died. So far, 321 cases of anthrax have also been reported in people across the two districts, and 6 human deaths have been reported as a result of handling or consuming meat from infected animals.
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| School children in Ha Makhoathi Village in Lesotho [Photo: IRIN] |
For most households livestock is the most important part of the household’s asset base, contributing to livelihoods through regular injections of cash, through the sale of products such as milk, wool and mohair. Livestock also contribute to household food security through the consumption of meat and milk.
In an attempt to curb the outbreak, the Government has identified over 740,000 animals in need of vaccination, but the Government only has resources to cover 440,000 of these and has approached the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to assist with the vaccination of the remaining animals. FAO is using a CERF grant to procure and administer the vaccine to 300,000 animals in order to reduce the number of occurrences of anthrax in animals and consequently humans.
In addition, a multimedia campaign is targeting affected areas and surrounding districts to ensure that information about the dangers of the disease is understood by the public.
[Last update: 10 April 2008]