The Aid-To-Africa Foundation of Essex in England has donated a consignment of foodstuffs, clothing, blankets, shoes and medicines to be distributed to child headed families and orphans in vulnerable villages of Lesotho.

In an interview, the Disaster Management Authority (DMA) officer, Mr. Majara Theko said a delegation of four men from Aid To Africa, in the names of Messrs Steve Simmans, John Scott, Harry Webber and Nicholas Sharp are in Lesotho to oversee the distribution of these items to the beneficiaries. Mr. Theko said there are specific villages, which have been identified in different areas of the country, saying these villages are in Taung, Senqu River Valley, Qacha's Nek and Thaba Tseka. He said the donation is part of the famine relief programme intended to assist vulnerable families with food.

In the meantime, the DMA is to receive 200 metric tons of yellow Chinese maize donated by the People's Republic of China. Mr. Theko said the maize is valued at M3 million and added that upon arrival next month, the maize will be milled and then distributed to vulnerable families as part of the famine relief programme. He said other countries, which have already donated food since the declaration of the state of famine in the country in April this year include Italy, which has donated maize and beans which are part of the food that is being distributed countrywide.

27 November,2002