Call for international support to the USD 31.7m Response Plan addressing the drought, food and nutrition crisis in Djibouti

Djibouti (07/08/2008) - The Republic of Djibouti is currently facing a humanitarian crisis driven by a combination of factors including several years of drought; insufficient rain to ensure a regeneration of vegetation and replenishment of water resources; and a dramatic rise in global price levels on basic food commodities and fuel.

The food security situation is severely compromised for an estimated 24,000 families (120,000 people of whom 36,000 are in semi-urban zones), some 8,500 refugees and 20,000 asylum seekers.

In response to the situation a joint appeal amounting to USD 31,670,000 has been launched by the Government of Djibouti and the United Nations system with technical support from UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA). The appeal covers a period of six months (July to December 2008) and is a consolidated response to the drought, food and nutrition crisis exacerbated by rising food prices.

Joint evaluations carried out by the Government and the United Nations System in the rural zones of Djibouti have revealed a catastrophic loss of livestock, an alarming level of malnutrition and a worsening of extreme poverty which has, according to the World Bank, shot up from 42 percent to 54 percent of the population (currently estimated at about 720,000 by the authorities). In addition, commercial activity among nomadic pastoralists has declined significantly.

The urban poor are equally severely affected by soaring prices on basic food necessities and fuel and many families have been forced to reduce the number of meals they eat per day to one or two.

The influx of Somali refugees has risen during 2008 due to the deterioration of the food security situation in Somalia. Some 100 people cross the border in Loyada (between Somaliland and Djibouti) every week to seek asylum in Djibouti.

The appeal is crucial to reach out to children under five years of age who are at risk of malnutrition through to a stronger network of mobile units traveling to remote communities. The appeal, if funded, will double the number of children reached to 25,000 or a coverage of 60 percent. In addition, full food rations will be provided for 80,000 people in rural areas and food/cash vouchers will benefit 55,000 people living in urban or semi-urban areas.

A strengthened water and sanitation response will provide 30 locations with safe water and rehabilitate or construct more than 150 wells and boreholes with hand pumps or solar energy. More than 400,000 animals - the key asset for pastoralists - will benefit from increased fodder production and improved treatment of diseases.

The appeal document including project sheets for proposed humanitarian interventions is available at: http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/EGUA-7H3LWG?OpenDocument

For further information, please contact:

Office of the UN Resident Coordinator, Djibouti, registry.dj@undp.org, tel +253 35 1361

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), roceainfo@un.org, tel +254-20-762-