Final report : Drought Relief Implementation Group -- contract no. 632-0280-C-00-3092-00

USAID provided more than 8,000 tons of maize and technical assistance in response to the 1991-1993 drought emergency. At DRIG"s request, USAID funded a Food and Logistics Coordinator temporary position to assist DRIG"s technical needs. The Food and Logistics Coordinator arrived at the height of drought operations in June 1993 and completed the contract with cessation of emergency operations in June 1994. The Coordinator coordinated all food and logistics matters of Vulnerable Household Feeding (360,000 beneficiaries), Food for Work (50,000 beneficiaries) and Supplementary Feeding (14,000 beneficiaries) Programmes. Recommendations are made for future emergency operations since drought is a cyclical occurrence in Lesotho. The report concludes that Lesotho"s economy is no longer agriculturally dependent but wage-based; future emergency operations should consider other methods of food distribution. The previous free food distribution programme was a short-term response to what many people believe is a long-term problem of decreasing agricultural production and poor climatic conditions. Other considerations for future emergency operations should focus emergency responses on public works projects which have a long term benefit to the community. (Author abstract)