Chinese Government donates M26 million worth of rice and wheat to Lesotho in 2023

In April 2023, the Chinese Government donated 1,053 tons of white rice, parboiled rice, and wheat to the Government of Lesotho to help alleviate food insecurity following a climate-related disaster in December 2022.

The donation, valued at M26 million, was officially handed over by Chinese Ambassador Lei Kezhong during a ceremony attended by Lesotho’s Acting Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister Nthomeng Majara, and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Limpho Tau.

The food was distributed by the Lesotho Disaster Management Bureau across multiple districts, including Morega, Berea, Leribe, Butabute, and Botha-Bothe.

Additional distributions were made to orphanages and at least 120 households whose homes were destroyed by strong winds.

At the time of the donation, five of Lesotho’s ten districts were classified in a “crisis” phase and the remaining five were classified as “stressed.” A follow-up food distribution reported in January 2024 in Kachasnek served 402 beneficiaries from 12 villages, with each household receiving 25 kg of rice and 12.5 kg of wheat.