Djibouti drought response boosted with $3.2 million from CERF

[Photo: IRIN]

12 August 2011: More than $3.2 million was allocated to United Agencies in Djibouti in August to respond to drought in the East African state. An acute crisis was caused by the region-wide drought, with vulnerability further heightened in Djibouti due to a continuing influx of refugees from neighbouring Somalia. An Emergency Food Security Assessment carried out in Djibouti earlier in 2011 indicated that 61,000 people were in urgent need of food assistance. 

The World Food Programme (WFP) was provided with nearly $1 million from the CERF to provide emergency food for 61,000 people in vulnerable rural areas of Djibouti, as well as 16,000 refugees at the Al Addeh refugee camp. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) received nearly $300,000 from the CERF to rehabilitate water supplies for 8,000 families and their livestock. More than $540,000 was allocated to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to provide life-saving treatment to malnourished children, pregnant women and recent mothers. A further $700,000 enabled UNICEF to provide safe water to 80,000 people by delivering supplies using water trucks, repairing wells, and installing water pumps within the most vulnerable communities.

The World Health Organization (WHO) was provided with the resources to expand primary health services within the worst-affected areas, with a focus on preventing disease outbreaks. The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) meanwhile used the CERF to provide supplementary food items and water purification equipment to refugees at the Al Addeh refugee camp.
 

Update on 12 August 2011

CERF allocates $3 million in response to ongoing drought in Djibouti.

 15 February 2011: In response to the destruction of rural livelihoods due to severe drought and rising food prices throughout the country, CERF has allocated $3 million for humanitarian response in Djibouti.

The World Food Programme (WFP) will use some $1.1 million to provide food assistance to vulnerable groups and implement a protracted relief and recovery operation. Some $800,000 has been allocated to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for acute malnutrition case management and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene emergency response. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will receive some $700,000 for emergency support to sustain pastoralist livelihoods affected by drought. The World Health Organization (WHO) will use some $250,000 to provide mobile health units in rural areas to reach vulnerable populations. Finally, some $100,000 has been allocated to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality and to carry out female health interventions.

This year marks the fourth consecutive year of failed rainfall in Djibouti, affecting an estimated 120,000 people – half of who are directly food-insecure in rural areas. The La Niña phenomenon has contributed to the recurring droughts, leaving rural families with few options to survive.

The population’s coping mechanisms have been exhausted, and drought and high food prices have led to massive loss of livestock, destruction of crops, increased malnutrition and associated health problems, and migration to towns. Over the past four to five years, pastoralists have lost 70 to 80 per cent of their livestock, while food prices have risen 50 per cent. Loss of income due to drought combined with the food price crisis has forced vulnerable households to allocate a larger share of their income to purchase food at the expense of health and education.

Furthermore, the worsening security situation in south-central Somalia has led to a large influx of refugees into Djibouti. The number of refugees is estimated to be 15,000 and growing, causing further concern for food security and safe water supply.

[Last Update:28 February 2011]

CERF in Djibouti 2009
CERF in Djibouti 2008
CERF in Djibouti 2007
CERF in Djibouti 2006