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Rising food commodity prices and ongoing drought conditions resulted in widespread food insecurity in Djibouti, primarily affecting pastoralists and urban poor households. Consecutive seasons of failed rain led to in the loss of an estimated 50 to 70 percent of the total livestock population due to inadequate water and pasture availability, according to the USAID-supported Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET). In July, the Government of Djibouti and U.N. agencies reported average global acute malnutrition (GAM) rates of 16.8 percent countrywide and a 25 percent GAM rate in northwestern Djibouti, significantly above the emergency threshold of 15 percent. In October, the U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimated 25,000 children below five required nutritional assistance. In addition, FEWS NET identified an estimated 441,000 people as at risk of extreme food insecurity, representing more than half the population.

On October 30, U.S. Ambassador James C. Swan redeclared a disaster due to the ongoing food security crisis. In FY 2008, USAID/OFDA provided nearly $500,000 to UNICEF to support an emergency response program for affected populations and provide therapeutic feeding for up to 25,000 acutely malnourished children. In addition, USAID/OFDA deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to Kenya and activated a Washington, D.C.-based Response Management Team (RMT) as part of a regional response to the growing food security crisis in the Horn of Africa, including Djibouti.

Several seasons of failed rains have led to chronic drought conditions throughout Djibouti, primarily affecting pastoralists in rural areas. According to the Government of Djibouti (GODJ), an estimated 50 percent of livestock have died from lack of adequate water and pasture, negatively impacting pastoralist livelihoods and exacerbating deteriorating food security for an estimated 80,000 people. On April 17, the GODJ declared a humanitarian emergency in most areas of the country.

On May 21, U.S. Ambassador W. Stuart Symington issued a disaster declaration due to the effects of the drought. In response, USAID/OFDA is providing $500,000 to the U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to support an emergency response program for affected populations and provide therapeutic feeding for up to 25,000 acutely malnourished children.

Since January 2007, limited access to safe drinking water and poor sanitation and hygiene conditions have led to a surge in diarrhea and cholera cases in Djibouti, primarily affecting Djibouti city and nearby Dikhil and Tadjourah districts, according to the Government of Djibouti Ministry of Health (MOH). Three surges in reported cases of diarrhea and cholera in January, April, and September have drained the existing resources of local government and relief agencies to adequately respond. The MOH reports more than 1,000 diarrhea cases since early September and over 40 new cases reported per day. On November 20, U.S. Ambassador W. Stuart Symington declared a disaster due to the growing incidence of diarrhea and cholera in Djibouti city and Dikhil and Tadjourah districts. In response, USAID/OFDA is providing $100,000 to the U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to provide medical supplies and facilitate an intensive health, sanitation, and hygiene campaign to prevent the further spread of diarrhea diseases.