There was evidence of greater vegetation depletion on north and east-facing slopes than on other slopes. Costs on jobs lost were not recoverable. The impacts of climate change in Lesotho will vary from sector to sector. Lesotho Flash Appeal, November 2019 - April 2020 Format Appeal Source. Development Plan I (NSDP I). This is as a result of overgrazing (which causes inadequate vegetative cover in the rangelands), drought, torrential rains which come during one season, communal land use (Tragedy of the commons), deforestation and improper land use practices. In Quthing, the Qomoqomong river suppies the town with drinking water, but currently there is water rationing because it is so dry you can see the river-bed, and so some villages have had no water for days. 2. For those people who are lucky enough to find water, they often consume unclean and untreated water that causes various waterborne diseases. drought occurred in 1980-1984, and was accompanied by widespread displacement and localized famine. In 2016, 17 percent of households in Lesotho reported using unprotected water sources. Lesotho experienced a terrible drought in 2007, and was hit by heavy rainfall in 2010. 01 (as of 19 Jan 2016) This report is produced by Office of the Resident Coordinator in Lesotho in collaboration with humanitarian partners. But sometimes drought's impact on the environment can last a long time, … Lesotho extended NSDP I for an extra year to 2018, and the country programme also was extended to align with that plan. In 2017, continued response to the El Niño drought supported an additional 3,681 affected households (11,043 children) in dire need through the Child Grants Programme (CGP). Plants and animals depend on water, just like people. Well-below average rainfalls have resulted in deterioration of the pasture and livestock conditions. The drought that destroyed the Mayans The Mayan empire in Mesoamerica was hit by drought at the most vulnerable moment in its history. Planting has been reduced. • 37,44% settlements in South Africa are affected by drought • Real agricultural output was 9.2% lower in the first half of 2019 than in the corresponding period of 2018. Drought leaves tens of thousands in Lesotho ‘one step from famine’ Rural areas worst hit as massive fall in food production causes severe hunger for a quarter of country’s population. When a drought occurs, their food supply can shrink and their habitat can be damaged. OCHA; Posted 20 Dec 2019 Originally published 19 Dec 2019. Background Lesotho and Swaziland experience intense, recurring drought resulting in disaster situations. Lowland areas that typically have higher production have also performed poorly this season. It was issued by the Humanitarian Country Team. Some experts say it was that drought, rather than civil strife, that caused the fall of the pharaohs, who ruled Ancient Egypt for 3,000 years before the region became a province of the Roman Empire in 30BC. Those in the green industry were no longer planting. While livestock theft in Lesotho is primarily caused by increased poverty among unemployed workers and drought stricken crop farmers, its effect on stock farmers can be devastating. Lesotho is expected to experience a change in temperature and precipitation patterns, toward dryer and hotter conditions. Scientific investigations have revealed that the primary cause is the fluctuation of the general atmospheric circulation. For example, if a river shared by two countries has a lower water level during a drought, the countries utilizing its waters will suffer from a water shortage. As a consequence of such fluctuations the rain-producing components for Ethiopia have been weakened or dislocated during drought years. Lesotho. Lesotho. After the 2015/16 drought that decimated 89 percent of agricultural production in Lesotho, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) teamed up with the government to develop innovative solutions and aid recovery. Variations of estimates depend on the definition of forest employed. causes of the degradation. “Lesotho is no stranger to drought which periodically occurs, causing havoc to water sources, agricultural production, food security and the environment, to name but a … main river tributaries, experience recurrent episodes of drought, leading to the loss the unique plant communities and habitats supporting a variety of endemic species. Nearly 25 percent of the population lacks access to safe drinking water. Each incidence of drought stimulates a disaster resilience discussion that stalls without … Recurrent drought events in Lesotho are the main cause of food insecurity, affecting crop production and food prices, livestock prices, as well as having a serious impact on child nutrition status and health. We learned in the discussions about the water cycle and weather that changes in the wind patterns that move clouds and moisture through the atmosphere can cause a place to not receive its normal amount of rain or snow over a long period of time. where drought is seen to be the cause (rather than just a trigger) of the food security crisis, the ‘drought scenario’ obscures the issue of HIV/AIDS and other causal factors of food insecurity in Lesotho. The FAO helps 70,000 households in Lesotho with home gardening techniques and provides nutrition kits in an effort to optimize food production and improve availability. 1This Documrnt Created by LATEX. It covers the period up to 19 January. Drought has many causes. Tensions might build up between the countries regarding the volume of the water shared by each country. UNFPA Communications officer Violet Maraisane said that it is estimated that at least 500 000 Basotho (a quarter of the population) are food insecure and would need assistance. The causes of drought are either natural or manmade or both. Proliferation of waterborne diseases. The country’s land is largely barren and mountainous. As a result, only about 20 percent of their demand for food has been met causing harsh food shortages across the country. Support Localized and less severe droughts (affecting between one and five states were also recorded in 1967-1973, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993 and 2000 (USGS, 2000). The governments of Lesotho, Malawi, and Zimbabwe declared emergencies, while in Mozambique an emergency plan to combat the effects of drought was begun. It can be caused by not receiving rain or snow over a period of time. Lesotho has been faced with a problem of desertification since early 1900s. Lesotho: Drought Situation Update 02 … No recent comprehensive data on the extent of forest cover exist. drought and late rains in the 2011/12 cropping season adds to the increasingly vulnerable situation of rural Lesotho. If the drought affects more than one country, wars might erupt between two countries sharing the vital water resources. It was causing more damage to the country. The decline in agriculture production is one of the main causes of poverty in rural areas. Lesotho’s economy and population rely heavily on agriculture; however, in recent years there has been severe drought. 140 kilometers per hour, can cause temperatures to rise as much as 20 C in two hours. Some of these countries, including Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe, have declared national emergencies in response to drought conditions and will require more imports than usual. • The drought conditions of 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2019 ha left many maize ve producers in the North West and parts of the Free State in a very challenging environment. The study demonstrated that NOAA AVHRR NDVI images could be used effectively for detecting land cover changes in Lesotho. Lesotho is expected to experience the worst effects of the drought between 20 December 2015 and 20 January 2016. Despite Lesotho’s economic dependence on the richness of its water resources, the country faces some water-related challenges. The Lesotho National Dairy Board has successfully brought together farmers to form the Lesotho Dairy Farmers Association (LDFA), a single national body for producers. Despite the recurrence of drought, both its influence on rural subsistence communities’ support systems and the actions that enable structures of resilience remain poorly understood. Poultry farmers have lost lots of chickens. The drought has hit Lesotho hard and has dried up most rivers in the country. 3. Rapid population growth coincided with a … The fruit yield was no longer what it used to be because it has halved by 50%. The 2018 rains were very poor, resulting in a decline in food production of 68 per cent in 2019. In addition, the intensity and frequency of extreme events such as floods and drought are expected to increase, especially in the western and northern lowlands. Drought also affects the environment in many different ways. Lesotho is among several countries in the region that experienced poor harvest due to the El-Nino induced drought. The majority of Lesotho’s population lives in rural areas, where 85% make a living from agriculture. The drought causes a lot of suffering among the people and by the end of the period, hundreds of people are deceased. Lesotho, like most of southern Africa, is experiencing climate-induced food insecurity. The depletion was attributed to the fragility of ecosystems resulting from intense solar radiation. Late onset of rains, below-average rains, dry spells, frost, and recurrent droughts are the most visible causes of hunger and malnutrition in the country. Sometimes the damage is only temporary and their habitat and food supply return to normal when the drought is over. Lesotho: El Niño-related Drought Office of the Resident Coordinator Situation Update. Lesotho is one of the least forested countries in Africa. As crop production is well below average this year, international aid agencies are concerned that millions of people in the region will require humanitarian assistance. 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