UNICEF HANDS OVER KITCHEN AND GARDEN TOOLS TO ORPHANS

The recent registration by Disaster Management Authority and World Food Programme shows that we have 92000 orphaned children, with over 8 400 in the district, he said. According to the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) Representative to Lesotho, Dr. Bertrand Desmoulins 60 percent of the orphaned have lost their fathers, 18 %  their mothers, while 22 % have lost both parents.

Dr. Desmoulins was handing over garden tools, seeds and kitchen kits that cost about M5 million for 335 orphaned children in Mohale's Hoek to the District Secretary. The equipment includes pots, basins, buckets, wheel burrows, spades, digging forks, axes, watering cans and seeds.

The UNICEF representative said the equipment is targeted mainly at children who have lost both parents so that they could produce vegetables and earn a living. He emphasized a need for the children to be provided with proper gardening and cooking skills, adding that it was the responsibility of the authorities to ensure that they get such skills. 

The UNICEF assistance follows realization that most adults are dying due to HIV/AIDS and number of orphaned children who grow up without anyone to care and cater for their needs is increasing. He therefore, advised the youth to abstain from sex before marriage in order to avoid being infected.

A Member of Parliament for Mohale's Hoek, Mr. Thabang Pheko commended UNICEF for the assistance and assured a fair distribution of the tools to the targeted group, proper use and protection of the tools. He also promised care of the children's rights so they are not abused. He appealed to UNICEF to provide educational assistance to the orphaned as to prepare them for better future.

The District Secretary, Mr. Sechaba Mojau said what UNICEF has done is a good move to teach people how  to produce food for themselves and not to always be given food. He therefore urged Parliamentarians, chiefs and Local Government structures to support the orphaned children in their activities and see that the equipments are for their benefit.

The garden tools and kitchen kit would be shared among 92 children from Mohale's Hoek, Taung, Qhalasi,  Ketane,  Hloahloeng, Qaqatu, Mekaling and Mpharane constituencies. 

Similar tools were distributed in Maseru this year and would be handed over to Mokhotlong this week as a long-term intervention for food production. 

10 December 2003