# Lesotho has declared a national “state of disaster” over soaring unemployment and mass job losses as it reels from the economic fallout of US tariffs and aid cuts. The textile-dependent economy was already grappling with sky-high unemployment, especially among the youth, before president Donald Trump slashed aid and raised trade barriers. The law, which gives the government additional powers including bypassing standard procedures, will be in force for two years. Ministries had already been ordered to allocate two-percent of their budgets to job creation efforts.
Lesotho declares state of disaster over soaring unemployment