UN: Lesotho facing "devastating" food crisis

Lesotho is in desperate need of food aid, following the widespread failure of crops across the small, landlocked southern African nation, dpa cited the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) as saying on Friday. The production of the staple maize was down 77 per cent compared to the previous year, while the wheat harvest declined by 52 per cent. "Lesotho is facing the devastating effects of two successive crop failures due to drought and late rainfall during the most recent agricultural season and, prior to that, due to unusually heavy rainfall, floods and frost linked to climate change," the WFP said in a statement. Last month, the government declared a food emergency and asked for international assistance. The WFP is seeking 38 million dollars to help feed hundreds of thousands of people, including many with HIV/AIDS. Lesotho, which is entirely surrounded by South Africa, has about 2 million citizens and has a high unemployment rate.