by Redcross20 | Apr 25, 2023 | Latest
Lesotho Red Cross Society (LRCS) received medical kits from the European Union Election Observation Mission to Lesotho.
When handing over the donation, the EU Head of Delegation to Lesotho Paola Amadei said it is a privilege that Lesotho Red Cross Society is the first to receive the items that include; 24 first aid kits, 34 personal medical kits, 14 hand sanitizers, two trauma kits, defibrillators, COVID-19 self-tests, infrared thermometers, metal boxes among others.
She said the mission saw it fitting to hand over the items to a worthy organisation that will put the items to good use after the General Elections in the country.
When receiving the donation, the President of LRCS Mr. Hareteke Nkhetse, on behalf of the Society expressed his gratitude to the European Union for extending a helping hand to the Society.
He further indicated that the Society is grateful to receive the goods on merit that they were doing a great job. Mr. Nkhetse said that the work of the Society is to help the government of Lesotho through humanitarian work.
The Secretary General of the Society Mr. Kopano Masilo, informed the Delegation that it is the responsibility of the Society to provide First Aid during national events such as the general elections and other events.
by Redcross20 | Apr 13, 2023 | Latest
The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) has approved a total M8.4 Million (469480 CHF) for Lesotho Red Cross Society for a five-year Drought Early Action Protocols (EAP) project.
The funds are divided into three phases, namely; immediate allocation of funds for readiness to the amount of M3.4 Million (189,621), Pre-positioning M74,590.00 (4.121 CHF) and 4.9 Million (27.5738 CHF) which is automatically allocated to implement early actions once reported.
This was revealed in the Lesotho Red Cross Society Early Action Protocol (EAP) document released in December 2022.
The report stated that the first leg of the project consists of training of community-based disaster response teams(CBDRTs) , village disaster management teams(VDMTs), Key stakeholders and LRCS Volunteers and staff countrywide.
According to the project manager Ms. Sebongile Hlubi, approximately 800 people will be trained countrywide starting from March to end of the year 2023.
Hlubi indicated that the first phase which consists of capacity building will be followed by monitoring of weather forecast by Lesotho Meteorological services (LMS). Upon receiving seasonal forecast indicating normal to below normal rainfall; the dissemination of early warning messages to 20,560 people from 5,140 households, followed by unconditional cash transfer to 2640 will resume.
She said the selection of beneficiaries for cash transfer will be done using the government’s Public Assistance (PA) programmes waiting lists. The PA waiting lists contain people already assessed as vulnerable by government social workers and not yet in receipt of any cash support due to budget constraints,
The cash transfer will enable the vulnerable households to buy basic food prior to price increase. “Each household will receive M772.00 per month for two months”, she said.
“The PA lists will be pre-screened and prepared annually ahead of drought. Then, once the threshold is reached the same lists will be verified and validated by relevant stakeholders. The collation of a waiting list will be done annually in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development ( MoSD) and the Disaster Management Authority (DMA). In addition, the early warning messages will target the recipients of unconditional cash transfers and other community members Hlubi informed”
Hlubi revealed that Lesotho has national documents that shows that there is a return period of drought every year. These documents are Climate Adaptation Strategy, (NAPA) National Adaptation Programs of Action, Early Warning Systems 1 and 2 and many others; “ and these are the documents that lead to the EAP today, she added.
According to studies Lesotho experiences climate change impacts and shocks with drought being the most recurrent and impactful hazard over the last 100 years the EAP document revealed.
“Studies indicate that there is an increase in drought emergencies recorded over the 25-year period (1991/1992 – 2015/2016) in Lesotho and the most impactful drought events are agricultural and socio-economic in nature, as they deteriorate natural resource-based livelihoods along with reduced crop and livestock productivity undermining socio-economic assets bases and creating livelihood vulnerabilities. In the last 10 years, the country experienced three extreme drought episodes (2011/12, 2015/16,2018/19),” it added.
The EAP reported that the major impact of the above past episodes was food insecurity. “The situation is exacerbated by continuous crop failures, low incomes, and high food prices, with 41% of rural families spending more than half of their income on food”, the report added.
These extreme drought conditions required prompt interventions to reduce human suffering and loss of their livelihoods. Therefore, LRCS through this Early Action Protocol (EAP) aims to mitigate drought impacts through anticipatory actions (AA) in the districts that are anticipated to observe worst drought impacts, Hlubi stated.
by Redcross20 | Apr 13, 2023 | Latest
The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is fast moving towards digitizing its data collection with the aim of reaching multiple audiences, collect feedback and understanding needs for humanitarian assistance .
Lesotho Red Cross Society, therefore, held a four-day assessment workshop on Digital Transformation held from January 30th to 2nd February 2023 in Maseru.
The workshop was attended by staff from head quarts and Divisions with the aim of assessing where the Society is currently regarding digital transformation.
The workshop had three domains to look into, namely; People, Process and Technology.
According to the facilitator Mr Ted Bolton, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Delegate, the assessment was designed to identify opportunities and priorities for digitally transforming the humanitarian services of National Societies (NS).
He said the assessment guides National Societies in developing a roadmap for digital transformation.
‘It aims at building forth on already existing organizational assets by deploying a holistic approach for a more data and digital-driven organization” he added.
After the intensive assessment exercise, the22 participants identified areas of high priority and lower priority.
They identified the following as areas of priority; training of staff and volunteers on data, digital and processes. This will ensure that data of the organisation is mainstreamed and siloed.
The Society will design a road map after assessing the needs.
The workshop is part of the IFRC Digital Transformation Strategy which priorities investments to improve relevance, speed, quality and resilience and accessibility of humanitarian services to people in need.
by Redcross20 | Apr 13, 2023 | Latest
Although children have adverse challenges to get education in Lesotho like long distances to school and bullying they still find schools as safer places to be than home.
This was said by the children during a UNICEF Lesotho study whose aim was to identify children’s challenges and violation of their rights as a result of development and humanitarian challenges.
The study was conducted in Mafeteng, Maseru, Mokhotlong and Quthing in November last year but the approved report was released this year this year.
According to the Programs Director Mr Sechaba Mokhameleli who led the exercise the exercises targeted children in and out of school; including herd boys and young Mothers.
The Disaster Management Officer of LRCS Mr Maine Makula indicated that it was discovered during the exercises that children come across different challenges and bottleneck that dampens their wellbeing and freedom.
The DM Officer revealed that during focus group discussions, children were freely talking about their issues in the absences of community leaders.
He said the idea of excluding the community leaders was to ensure that the children speak freely about issues that affect them
In addition, the other focus groups included community leaders like the chiefs, councilors and teachers, he said.
According to the participants, it was indicated that both boys and children do not attend school well due to long distances they have to walk to schools and bullying by boys looking after animals, while girls deliver food for boys at the field.
“We feel safe at school than at home. Our parents fight in our presence, some of them give us a lot of responsibilities that affect our studying at home. We do not have enough time to play at home. Some of us especially those whose parents drink alcohol are more troubled because they come home late shouting at everyone in the house, they said”
Children demonstrated that they are not only abused physically, but also emotionally. Lerato Motaung (not her real name) indicated that she lives with her sick mom and stepfather who always refuse to assist with school items such as; uniform, books, and clothes.
“My mother is sick, and I always shout at me when I request school items and other necessities and these gives me a lot of stress. I sometimes think I would be better off with my biological father and his family than with my mother”, she said.
Lerato says her father may treat well and accept. She thinks he may be able to assist with her needs.
Lerato continued that her mother tells her that her father abandoned her and that wishing to relocate to him she will discover how the family hates her. She told the researchers that her mother constantly tells her how useless she is.
In conclusion, the Programs Director indicated that the study was carried out using different tools that allowed the children to be comfortable to express their issues using five thematic areas; Education, Health, Child protection, Nutrition and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.
In these consultations, UNICEF observers were present to observe part of the exercises which were carried out. The study was financed by UNICEF Lesotho to the tune of M432 200 Maloti.
by Redcross20 | Apr 13, 2023 | Latest
Every year His Majesty King Letsie III marks His birthday by making a difference in lives of the communities in need.
In 2022, His Majesty chose Tajane community in Mafeteng district where forty-five (45) people from Tajane village in Mafeteng received agricultural inputs from Lesotho Red Cross Society (LRCS). The aim of the donation was to ensure that they community is able to fight climate change.
The items received included watering cans, shade nets and vegetable seeds on January 18th 2023.
When officially handing over the items, Mr. Sechaba Mokhameleli, LRCS Programs Director said the Society donated the agricultural inputs to His Majesty’s Community Work after He saw the hunger that Basotho are facing. He said His Majesty identifies these communities during His annual walk when celebrating His birthday.
“Today we are here as the Lesotho Red Cross Society to deliver the agricultural inputs on behalf of His Majesty since He will not be present today. The expectation is that after today you will start planting.” Mr. Mokhameleli said.
The Secretary General of LRCS Mr. Kopano Masilo said “I wish to see a difference when we come to Tajane because doing so will motivate and encourage His Majesty that his efforts are taken serious by the community he is assisting. Let us not forget that His Majesty is the UN’s ambassador on nutrition.”
On behalf of the community, Mr. Tau Makhomu urged the beneficiaries that received the agricultural inputs to use them for their intended purpose.
The Chief of Tajane expressed his gratitude to the office of His Majesty and the LRCS for the donations.
He pleaded with his community to use the skills they were given during a training on Smart Agricultural Techniques to plough the seeds so that their lives can improve.
In addition, the Society had held a three-day training on Smart Agricultural Technique from September 27th to 30th 2022 for the Tajane community. The aim of the training was to prepare the community to use the seeds wisely.
In addition, to the smart agricultural technique training the Society held a Basic First Aid training and Child Protection. The project was funded by International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) to the tune of M75. 000.
