In Lesotho, drought and subsequent crop failures has caused a severe food crisis across the region. The effects of El-Niño have been devastating and with only 9% of land in Lesotho suitable for growing crops, subsequent high food prices mean that maintaining a healthy diet is simply impossible for many of the 2.2 million population.
In fact, a staggering 1 in 3 people across Lesotho are food insecure. With low incomes and many families in rural areas reliant on agriculture, food insecurity poses a significant threat. Across the country, 72% of the population live in rural areas where 2 out of every 5 families are forced to spend over half of their income on food.
Many people across the country face a range of daily struggles:
- Over half the population live below the poverty line (UN World Food Programme, 2018)
- Almost a third of the population are unemployed (UNDP, 2018)
- Life expectancy is just 54 years old (UN, 2017)
- Over a third of children suffer from moderate/severe stunting (UNICEF, 2012)
Islamic Relief in Lesotho
Recognising the need for food relief across Lesotho, Islamic Relief supports seasonal-based projects where we work to provide supplementary food resources at critical times of the year.
At Islamic Relief, we run seasonal Qurbani and Ramadan programmes to provide locals with much needed protein and food sources to help combat malnutrition and stunting.