Poverty among children in Lesotho: the need for social services

Abstract

Lesotho is an independent monarchical country, whose being surrounded by the Republic of South Africa makes it quite unique. Even its problems are peculiar. It is a small country covering an area of 30,355 sq km and has a population of 1,8 million. The country is divided into ten administrative districts. At village level there is a traditional structure in which chiefs are responsible for the day- to-day administration. About 75% of Lesotho is mountainous. Thabana-Ntlenyana, which is the highest mountain in Lesotho, is also the highest in southern Africa and is 3,841m. The high altitude makes the country one of the very few countries in Africa that experience severe winters with heavy snow-falls, particularly in the mountainous regions.