Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05MASERU205
2005-04-19 15:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Maseru
Cable title:  

DISASTER DECLARATION FOR LESOTHO

Tags:  EAID EAGR PREL LT 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS MASERU 000205 

SIPDIS

AIDAC

FOR USAID/OFDA -- ATTN: KISSACS; GGOTTLIEG, MMARX, AND CPRATT
PRETORIA -- PLEASE PASS TO USAID/OFDA/SARO -- ATTN: HHALE; ASINK
PRETORIA FOR USAID/FFP -- ATTN: PDISKIN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EAGR PREL LT
SUBJECT: DISASTER DECLARATION FOR LESOTHO

REF: A) FEWSNET FOOD SECURITY BRIEF MARCH 2005 B) HALE-ALBRECHT EMAILS

OCTOBER 2004 TO PRESENT C) GOL APPEAL FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE D) 03
MASERU 746 E) 02 MASERU 556

UNCLAS MASERU 000205

SIPDIS

AIDAC

FOR USAID/OFDA -- ATTN: KISSACS; GGOTTLIEG, MMARX, AND CPRATT
PRETORIA -- PLEASE PASS TO USAID/OFDA/SARO -- ATTN: HHALE; ASINK
PRETORIA FOR USAID/FFP -- ATTN: PDISKIN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EAGR PREL LT
SUBJECT: DISASTER DECLARATION FOR LESOTHO

REF: A) FEWSNET FOOD SECURITY BRIEF MARCH 2005 B) HALE-ALBRECHT EMAILS

OCTOBER 2004 TO PRESENT C) GOL APPEAL FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE D) 03
MASERU 746 E) 02 MASERU 556


1. The Ambassador declares that a humanitarian disaster exists
in Lesotho due to the continuing shortage of food. In essence,
the conditions that created a humanitarian disaster starting in
2002 (ref E) and continuing in 2003-2004 (REF D) remain in
effect: the drought continues and the situation has not
significantly improved. Therefore, this constitutes Embassy
Maseru's request for humanitiarian assistance. Post is not
requesting $50,000 from USAID/OFDA, as this is a renewal of an
earlier Disaster Declaration, but looks forward to working in
collaboration with USAID/OFDA to determine the most appropriate
humanitarian assistance priorities and possible funding levels.



2. The situation in Lesotho remains very serious. Rains for the
summer crops were below average and occurred well after the
normal planting/maturation period. Ref A notes that the summer
harvest, while improved from last year will be no better than 14
per cent BELOW the five-year average, which is based largely on
the three-plus years of drought conditions. Also, it should be
noted that the harvest projection in Ref A is the most
optimistic prediction; the WFP office has stated that the actual
yield could be 15 to 25 per cent lower than the 120,000 metric
tons estimated by FEWSNET. Further, WFP predicts that critical
food shortages will continue during the 2004/2005 consumption
year. While rains in late January through March will benefit
the winter crops, such yields even during years of normal or
higher rainfall account for only a small percentage of the
annual agricultural harvest. According to the latest WFP report
on Lesotho, the current PRRO has a shortfall of 7459 Metric
tons. WFP estimates that 350,000 people (about 18 per cent of
the country's total population) will remain chronically food
insecure unless conditions improve greatly. Finally, it should
be noted that the Government of Lesotho has issued an appeal for
humanitarian food assistance.


3. Post looks forward to working with USAID/FFP and USAID/OFDA
regional offices to identify critical humanitarian assistance
needs and gaps that the USG can best address in Lesotho. The
Lesotho Vulnerability Assessment Committee (LVAC) will be
undertaking a nationwide assessment of food security conditions
in the weeks to come, following the expected greatly reduced
harvest, and will further refine and identify those geographic
and demographic segments of Lesotho at greatest risk of
increased food insecurity. Post will review assessment findings
to further review and update humanitarian needs in Lesohto.



PERRY