LEAST developed countries like Lesotho are struggling to meet sustainable development goals and targets as the situation has been exacerbated by the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which expended the financial balance sheets on coping with the pandemic in the past two years, Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro has said.

Lesotho and the other countries in a similar state, he said now require financial stimulus to restart their post-COVID-19 economies and to accelerate progress towards the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, approved in September 2015 by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, establishes a transformative vision towards the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the 193 UN Member States, including Lesotho that adopted it.

Dr Majoro made these remarks on Monday when addressing the 76th session of the UN General Assembly that was held in New York, USA from September 21.

Dr Majoro who replaced Dr Motsoahae Thabane as the Prime Minister of Lesotho on May 20, 2020 was attending the seven-day assembly for the first time as Head of the Lesotho Government.  
He said locking down the economies is no longer an option as many countries can operation without the lockdowns. 

“As world leaders, we must come together to guarantee simultaneous access to vaccines by all countries.
“My delegation expresses sincere appreciation for all initiatives recently taken thorough Convax to address the needs of developing countries , especially in the development, production and equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatments and vaccines,'' he said.  

He applauded the world leaders and their efforts towards the fight against the global pandemic, saying the UN General Secretary, Antonio Guterres has shown that the world is in great danger, warning of the consequences of the failure to work together.  

''2020 was a year of death, disaster and despair,'' he said, calling for bold action to overcome the devastation in 2020 that resulted from the pandemic. 
He said this year's befitting theme ''building resilience through hope - to recover from COVID-19, rebuild sustainability, responding to needs of the planet, respect the rights, and revitalise the United Nations'' is a call to the world leaders to demonstrate their continued commitment in support of national efforts.