World Vision partners with the Lesotho Red Cross to launch EU-funded project to improve disaster preparedness and response
Funded by the EU for a period of 18 months, World Vision Lesotho embarks on a partnership with the Lesotho Red Cross to improve disaster preparedness in the rural districts of Mokhotlong and Qacha's Nek.
In recent times, Lesotho has suffered from extreme weather, such as the El Niño induced drought, flash floods and severe hail and snow storms. These events have affected the most vulnerable households who lost their homes, their crops and their livelihoods. Their resilience to recover from these extreme weather events was also greatly reduced.
The EU-funded project will help 10,000 people to better prepare for future disasters and more easily recover from them. The most vulnerable, among others children, the elderly, women and people with disabilities are set to benefit from the project. Government representatives at various levels and members of the emergency and development community structures will receive support to improve their capacity to prepare and respond to disasters.
“The EU support is aimed at reducing the avoidable suffering caused by natural disasters. We also want to ensure that when disaster strikes, the most vulnerable and most affected people can immediately benefit from aid such as cash transfers. We need to prevent people from losing their means of subsistence as a result of adverse weather,” said Alexandre Castellano, Head of Southern Africa programmes for EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid.
“Improved emergency preparedness, including the timely availability of weather information and action plans will help communities, government and local stakeholders to prepare and respond more effectively to natural hazards in a coordinated way,” Mamello Tsekoa, World Vision Lesotho's Senior Programs Officer. “The project will strengthen local capacity to be prepared for disasters and more effectively identify and address the needs of vulnerable communities,” Tsekoa adds.
Building on World Vision Lesotho and Lesotho Red Cross Society experience in addressing Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation issues in Southern Africa this project will consolidate successful implementation procedures and enforce lessons learned for a sound impact. The project will be overseen and monitored by World Vision Austria.
Background
Previous assessments have shown that the major drivers of the vulnerability of the poor and very poor households are lack of access to information and services regarding early warning, lack of knowledge on usage of the information, non-existence of Community Disaster Preparedness Plans (CDPP) and centralized government initiatives towards Shock Responsive Social Protection. The situation leaves the population of Lesotho unprepared for any shocks or hazards. In order to increase the resilience of vulnerable households in Lesotho, it is key to assist communities to increase their capacity to address the most urgent situations of vulnerability to reduce the impact from disaster on their lives.
Notes
European Commission Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid (ECHO)
The European Union with its Member States is a leading global donor of Humanitarian Aid. Through the European Commission's Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO), the EU helps over 120 million victims of conflict and disasters every year. With headquarters in Brussels and a global network of field offices, ECHO provides assistance to the most vulnerable people solely on the basis of humanitarian needs, without discrimination of race, ethnic group, religion, gender, age, nationality or political affiliation.
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization conducting relief, development, and advocacy activities in its work with children, families, and their communities in nearly 100 countries to help them reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is an international humanitarian movement with approximately 17 million volunteers, members and staff worldwide which was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human beings, and to prevent and alleviate human suffering.
Press contacts
Atang Likotsi, World Vision Lesotho (+266 22317371)
Tokoloho Khutsoane, Lesotho Red Cross (+266 2231 3911)
See Also
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