The Lesotho Red Cross Society acts ahead of an El Niño-driven drought

The Lesotho Red Cross Society acts ahead of an El Niño-driven drought

With El Niño threatening to disrupt the upcoming rainfall and agricultural seasons, the Lesotho Red Cross Society (LRCS) has activated its early action protocol (EAP) for drought. It will now begin implementing anticipatory actions to support the most vulnerable households from the worst impacts. Heightened food insecurity is the main concern, with 20 per cent of Lesotho’s population projected to be affected between October 2026 and March 2027.

The planned actions, which will take place between September and November 2026, include:

• providing 1,640 households with cash assistance of 1,500 Lesotho maloti (approx. 93 US dollars/80 euros) for two months
•  supporting the dissemination of early warnings and information, through community structures and community radio stations.

The cash assistance will focus on two priority districts, selected based on their vulnerability and the expected impacts of the drought in terms of food insecurity, as well as other risk and needs assessments. 

This activation is being supported by 549,991 Swiss francs (approx. 675,000 US dollars/582,000 euros) from the Anticipatory Pillar of the IFRC’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund. Overall, the actions are expected to support over 5,100 households (20,560 people).

Triggering the EAP for drought

Lesotho’s latest seasonal outlook, which covers the October to December (OND) season for 2026, forecasts normal to below-normal rainfall for the country. With the ongoing El Niño phenomenon expected to peak between October 2026 and January to March 2027, this is likely to affect the country’s critical planting and crop-growing periods, with significant impacts for agricultural production, water availability, food security and rural livelihoods.

The trigger set out in the EAP is set for January, based on the amount of rainfall seen during the OND season.  However, the threshold for low rainfall is projected to occur during this season. The combination of both the country’s projected levels of food insecurity and the forecasts of normal to below-normal rainfall during the OND season was sufficient for the Lesotho Red Cross Society to activate its EAP for drought.

The government of Lesotho has also activated its Anticipatory Action Window for September to November. By acting now, rather than waiting until January, the LRCS will be able to align its actions with the government’s window.