Lesotho Post-Disaster Needs Assessment : Heavy Rains 2010-11

The Kingdom of Lesotho is a land-locked
nation located in the Drakensberg mountain range in Southern
Africa. The country has a total area of 30355 km² and in
2009 had an estimated population of nearly 2.1 million, with
nominal per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of US$ 1080
(in 2010). About 75 percent live in rural areas, often in
scattered mountain villages, while most of the urban
population lives in and around the capital Maseru and the
surrounding low lands. The hazards that affect Lesotho are
drought, snowfall, hailstorms, strong winds, localized
floods, and early frost. Lesotho's vulnerability to
these hazards is compounded by a number of other underlying
factors, including high levels of poverty, particularly in
rural areas where the scattered nature of settlements makes
the provision of and access to social services difficult.
The high HIV prevalence rate has resulted in the existence
of vulnerable groups, particularly Orphans and Vulnerable
Children (OVCs). This document describes the implementation
of the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) process,
presents the findings of the assessment and makes initial
recommendations for post-disaster recovery, reconstruction
and risk reduction activities, to be considered by the Government.