Maseru, Aug. 18 — The Disaster Management Authority (DMA) has convened a National Stakeholder Forum on Anticipated El Niño to strengthen preparedness and early action ahead of the forecast El Niño conditions expected to affect Lesotho.
The forum brought together stakeholders to assess the potential impacts of the phenomenon on food security, livelihoods, livestock, water, health and other socio-economic sectors, while identifying measures that can be implemented before the situation deteriorates.
Speaking at the forum, DMA Chief Executive Officer Mr. Reatile Elias said the authority’s vulnerability assessments are aimed at determining the number of vulnerable people, the severity of their vulnerability and the factors contributing to their exposure to different shocks.
He said the assessments consider a range of issues, including crop and livestock production, health, water and sanitation, migration, market functionality, fuel prices and household livelihoods.
He mentioned that the country continues to face several socio-economic shocks, including heavy rains that damaged crops and livestock in some areas, livestock disease outbreaks, rising commodity and transport costs, loss of employment and reduced household incomes.
He expressed concern about Lesotho’s food production levels, noting that the country remains unable to produce enough food to meet domestic consumption needs.
He stated that the anticipated El Niño conditions, combined with other factors such as high fuel prices, livestock diseases and international developments affecting food and energy markets, could further increase pressure on vulnerable households.
He called for strengthened humanitarian assistance, including conditional and unconditional cash transfers, continued support for market-based interventions, intensified livestock vaccination, agricultural input support and participatory action involving communities.
Senior Meteorologist Mr. Charles Ts’eole explained that El Niño refers to the abnormal warming of sea surface temperatures over the equatorial Pacific Ocean, which can influence weather patterns across different parts of the world.
He said climate forecasting is based on probabilities and historical observations, cautioning that El Niño does not automatically mean that all areas will experience drought.
Mr. Ts’eole said current forecasts indicate a likelihood of El Niño conditions developing, but the intensity and impacts may vary across regions. He said Lesotho should therefore use available forecasts and historical climate information to prepare for possible dry conditions while recognising that rainfall patterns can differ from one area to another.
DMA Director for Early Warning and Preparedness, Ms. Mamonyaku Koloti, said anticipatory action is intended to improve the effectiveness of humanitarian response while reducing its cost by taking action before a disaster or climate shock reaches crisis levels.
She said anticipatory action relies on clearly defined triggers based on forecasts, exposure, vulnerability and anticipated impacts.
Ms. Koloti said the DMA has identified measures including dissemination of early warning messages, conditional and unconditional cash transfers, provision of safe water through rehabilitation and construction of boreholes, springs and ponds, and the procurement of water tanks.
She mentioned that other planned interventions include provision of drought-tolerant and early-maturing seeds, fodder, pesticides and other agricultural inputs.
She urged government and development partners to support the implementation of the plan, saying early intervention would help protect vulnerable communities, livelihoods and productive assets.
The forum forms part of efforts by the DMA and its partners to strengthen early warning, preparedness and anticipatory action so that vulnerable Basotho can be supported before the effects of potential climate shocks become severe.
Ends/ MAMAJ/tl
