Lesotho — humanitarian situation

Lesotho faces deteriorating acute food insecurity driven by climatic shocks, high food prices, and livestock disease. According to IPC analysis published in August 2026, more than 234,000 people in rural areas—15 percent of the analyzed population—are experiencing Crisis or worse conditions (IPC Phase 3 or above) between May and September 2026. This is projected to worsen significantly, with approximately 311,000 people (20 percent of the rural population) expected to face high levels of acute food insecurity from October 2026 through March 2027 IPC. Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes persist across the Southern Lowlands, Senqu River Valley, and Mountain regions, with household food stocks expected to deplete atypically early by September rather than lasting through the typical post-harvest period FEWS NET. Multiple compounding factors are constraining household food access. The 2025/2026 harvest was below average, and while maize imports are expected to support food access, households will become market-reliant earlier than usual amid localized above-average staple food prices FEWS NET. Declining remittances and below-average labor opportunities further limit purchasing power. Climate conditions remain unfavorable, with the Lesotho Meteorological Services indicating increased likelihood of dry spells over eastern and central regions from July to September 2026, and El Niño conditions persisting into late 2026, likely delaying the start of the October 2026 to April 2027 rainy season WFP, FEWS NET. Previous rainy seasons from 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 brought excessive rainfall that disrupted farming, damaged crops and stored food supplies, and destroyed critical infrastructure including roads, compounding the current food insecurity situation IFRC. WFP continues to serve as a key food security partner to the Government, providing technical assistance to strengthen national capacity for managing and implementing programs WFP. The Lesotho Red Cross Society, supported by IFRC through the Disaster Response Emergency Fund, is implementing a Drought Early Action Protocol with an allocation of CHF 549,991 to strengthen anticipatory action and enhance community resilience IFRC. WFP is collaborating with the Disaster Management Authority and Lesotho Meteorological Services to strengthen preparedness systems ahead of the anticipated difficult lean season WFP.