With a population of around 2.1 million, the southern African kingdom of Lesotho has been heavily impacted by inflation, unemployment, periodic droughts, erratic rainfall, and the HIV and AIDS pandemic.

It’s estimated that 180,000 children in Lesotho have lost one or both parents to the disease. As a result, many families struggle with chronic poverty and hunger.

World Vision’s food aid program in Lesotho focuses on the most vulnerable: people living with HIV and AIDS and orphans or vulnerable children. During 2010, some 82,000 people received monthly rations distributed through 79 health clinics in four districts.

Ensuring people had enough food was the priority, but the distribution program also created an opportunity for World Vision to provide families with nutrition education and advice on HIV and AIDS treatment.

Mpoi, aged 38, is an unemployed widow who has three children, one who is HIV positive. Her family received monthly rations and said that this assistance meant that she no longer had to beg for food from neighbours and relatives.

“I am very happy with what World Vision is doing for us … We are able to eat and feed our children without having to bother other people for help,” Mpoi said. 

She says this allows her to retain her dignity and continue to have a good rapport with her family and neighbours.

Jacob Daniels, Commodities Manager for World Vision in Lesotho shared this message with supporters of World Vision’s Multiplying Gift Appeal: “It is not fair for someone to die because of hunger ... World Vision Australia is one of our major donor countries for our food program, and this is a great privilege and honour for me to say thank you to the Australian people and World Vision Australia for the generous gift you have given us.”