Africa-Press – Lesotho. The European Union (EU) together with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) contributed M98 million to the Government of Lesotho
through the Ministry of Social Development to assist 50 000 families that take care of vulnerable children who already get assistance from the ministry and over 6 000 vulnerable families that will
get a once off assistance. The initiative came following the announcement by the Government of Lesotho in March 2020 that the outbreak of Coronavirus pandemic has brought hunger among
Basotho nation. Ministry of Social Development Director Social Assistance ‘Maeaea Mokhethi explained that this money will respond to the needs of those families during this period
of Covid-19. She further said the ministry assists different groups of families through programs like Public Assistance under which they aid vulnerable people and
those living with disabilities. She said there are about 12 741 families under this program. The second group falls under the Child Grand Programme (CGP) and the last group is of
over 6 000 families that will get a once off assistance from the ministry and such families are already selected and registered with the ministry. “These
families were spotted country wide though in most cases, we know that vulnerable families are located in rural areas,” she said. Mokhethi further said for those families taking care of vulnerable children, each family will
receive M1 500 for a period of three months which will go along with their monthly CGP. She noted that the CGP allowance is determined by the number of children available
within each family. She further said the other group of over 6 000 families, each family will receive M2 068 for a period of three months. Mokhethi said the
ministry’s mandate is to ensure that every poor and vulnerable person is empowered through the creation of caring and integrated system of social development services that facilitate sustainable human development.
“It is during times of crises like these that we ensure that those groups of vulnerable people we already help get financial top up for sustainability,” she said.
For More News And Analysis About Lesotho Follow Africa-Press
