Maseru, June 11 — The Disaster Management Authority (DMA) has appealed to Basotho to understand the difference between a disaster and personal emergencies that can be addressed through other government support services.

In an interview with the Agency, Acting District Disaster Manager Mrs. Sophie Ralejoe said many people mistakenly expect DMA to intervene in situations that do not qualify as disasters, resulting in frustration when they are referred to other offices.

“People are hurting, and we understand that. We are working tirelessly to assist those in genuine need. However, some people become upset when we direct them to the appropriate offices because they believe we do not want to help,” she said.

Mrs. Ralejoe explained that DMA conducts on-site assessments in areas where disasters are reported in order to verify information and determine the extent of the situation before any intervention can be made.

She said the assessments help officials establish whether incidents meet the criteria for an official disaster declaration and identify areas where emergency assistance may be required.

According to Mrs. Ralejoe, DMA intervenes only when an incident overwhelms the capacity of communities and local structures to respond effectively.

She cited examples such as widespread flooding affecting entire villages or districts, major fires that displace several families, large-scale crop failures threatening community food security, earthquakes and severe storms causing extensive damage.

“A disaster means local chiefs, councils and health facilities can no longer cope on their own. That is when we activate national resources,” she said.

Mrs. Ralejoe noted that many of the calls received by DMA relate to personal emergencies that could be resolved more quickly through other service providers.

“Calling DMA for a single roof blown off by strong winds may delay assistance to hundreds of families affected by widespread flooding. We assess every report, but where an issue does not qualify as a disaster, we refer people to the relevant office that can provide immediate assistance,” she explained.

She acknowledged that the assessment process sometimes creates tension between the public and the authority.

“People contact our offices seeking assistance and we ask questions to determine whether the situation should be classified as a disaster or addressed through ordinary social support mechanisms. When we advise them to approach Social Welfare or other relevant offices, some feel rejected,” she said.

Mrs. Ralejoe urged members of the public to first assess the scale of an incident before reporting it to DMA.

“People should ask themselves whether the problem affects only their household or the entire community. If it affects only an individual family, they should first approach local chiefs, councils or Social Welfare offices. If it affects an entire village or community, then DMA should be contacted,” she said.

She assured Basotho that DMA remains committed to assisting those in need and guiding callers to the appropriate services.

“We will never ignore people seeking help. We simply need everyone to understand how the system works so that assistance can reach the most vulnerable communities as quickly as possible,” she added.

Meanwhile, a disaster is defined as a sudden event that causes significant damage, loss of life or serious disruption to a community, overwhelming local resources and requiring intervention beyond the capacity of local authorities.

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