Disaster Management

Natural Disasters

Livelihoods in Lesotho, depends on crop and livestock production who are vulnerable to the erratic nature of weather events due to orography, including the steep slopes, the shallow soils, and precipitation performance in both space and time. Lesotho possesses an extremely fragile ecosystem whose vulnerabilities are promoted by the terrain of the land. Majority of the society derives their livelihoods from the rain fed agriculture which is at threat of increasing levels climate variability that brings different forms of drought, floods, heavy snowfalls and any other forms of weather related hazards. Presently, about three-quarters of all natural disasters being related to weather, climate and water and their extremes, Lesotho is more vulnerable to natural disasters of which drought is prominent.

In order to be prepared and to take action to meet the risk posed by disasters, it is imperative to be informed of the risks involved, and of possible options to mitigate the risk. The Lesotho Meteorological Services being the sole Government agency dealing with issues of weather and climate, provides weather related warnings that are hazardous and put the society at risk of meteorological, hydrological threats. 

 Objective

1. To minimize the vulnerabilities of the society to natural disasters influenced by weather/climate through provision of timely weather/climate information.

2. To mitigate the natural disasters by educating the society of the levels of uncertainty, risks and hazards associated with climate of the Lesotho

 Activities

1. Issue warnings of upcoming hazardous weather phenomenon

2. Participates in different food security assessments with other stakeholders. 

3. Undertakes studies to determine more the climate uncertainties