Lesotho 2011 Heavy Rain- Post Disaster Needs Assessment

Between December 2010 and February 2011, Lesotho experienced river floods, run-off from hill slopes, and rockslides due to severe and prolonged rainfall. Additionally, strong winds and localized hailstorms caused severe damages. The heavy rain significantly impacted the agricultural sector. The Lesotho Vulnerability Assessment Committee estimated that some 250,000 people (around 13.6 % of the total population) were affected by the events. Among those affected, over 3360 people were displaced.

Following the floods and severe weather events a nationwide rapid assessment was conducted by the Government of Lesotho (GoL) through its Disaster Management Agency (DMA) in mid-January 2011. This PDNA uses two assessments—the Damage and Loss Assessment (DALA) and the Human Recovery Needs Assessment (HRNA). The DALA is a quantitative assessment of the damages and subsequent economic losses caused by the disaster. The HRNA examines the social impacts of the disaster, analyzing how communities and livelihoods were affected.

This assessment includes a recovery framework, with guiding principles for recovery, medium- to long-term reconstruction, and disaster risk reduction programs.