LESOTHO: Targeted food aid to continue

JOHANNESBURG, 4 June 2003 (IRIN) - World Vision in Lesotho will move away from general food distributions to targeted distributions for the most vulnerable, such as people living with HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. A World Vision statement indicated that the NGO would begin these distributions of relief food from the end of June. Aid agencies estimate that 760,000 people in Lesotho require food aid to survive, and World Vision reaches 113,090 of them. The NGO said the food security crisis was likely to continue in parts of Lesotho, following this year's harvest. "A recent assessment carried out by the UN stated that this year has seen higher food production than last year. Most of the food is produced in the northern part of the country where rainfall was adequate. However, general production is said to be 30 percent less than the average food production that is required to sustain the whole country," the organisation commented. The statement quoted World Vision relief manager, Bongi Mushapaidze, as saying there were already shortcomings with the current approach, as the southern parts of the country - Quthing, Mohale's Hoek and Mafeteng districts - have been badly affected by drought. "Many people in these districts are still going to go without food as production has not improved from last year in this part of the country", she said.