FIGHTING DROUGHT IN DJIBOUTI

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000094

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF AND AF/E
STATE ALSO PASS USAID
LONDON, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS ECON SENV EAID SOCI DJ
SUBJECT: FIGHTING DROUGHT IN DJIBOUTI



1. (U) SUMMARY: The Government of Djibouti has launched an
appeal to the donor community, including Western and Arab
countries with missions accredited to Djibouti, to fight famine
currently threatening more than 70,000 of Djibouti's citizens.
Like other countries in the Horn of Africa region, Djibouti is
facing a drought that is impacting both livestock and people.
END SUMMARY.


2. (U) Djiboutian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mahmoud Ali
Youssouf met with Ambassadors and cooperation representatives of
donor countries accredited in Djibouti, including the U.S., on
January 18 and 19. He informed them of the local situation and
made note of President Guelleh's address to the nation on the
occasion of Eid Al-Adha in which he announced that a large
number of Djibouti's citizens faced a food shortage in the
interior regions because of drought. Mahmoud added that 47,000
families could perish if not rescued. Youssouf said he was
confident of "positive reactions" from donor states.


3. (U) Ambassador told the Minister of Foreign Affairs during
the meeting that the U.S through USAID already has in the Port
of Djibouti 660 metric tons of food aid to assist Djibouti with
the drought. She also said she had heard the appeal coming from
the President and that the Embassy in consultation with USAID
would determine if additional resources could be provided.
Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa representatives,
stationed at Camp Lemonier, accompanied Ambassador and USAID
representative and indicated their willingness to help with
logistics, if needed.


4. (U) Under USAID auspices, a Famine Early Warning Systems
Network (FEWSNET) operates in Djibouti and issues periodic
emergency alerts when a significant food crisis is occurring and
where portions of the population are located that are or might
be affected by crisis. It issued such an alert on January 11 and
noted that successive failure of the main season rains and
prolonged droughts in certain livestock dependent areas had
severely affected pastoral livelihoods. According to FEWSNET,
the drought also created critical water shortages for both human
and animals.


5. (U) The World Food Program (WFP) estimates that 5.4 million
people living in Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia and Djibouti are
facing famine and the WFP Director for Central and East Africa
is urging donors broadly to respond in order to avoid a
humanitarian disaster. WFP estimates indicate that 47,000 are in
need in Djibouti and that this number might reach 60,000 during
the coming months. FEWSNET states that 230,000 persons are at
risk.


6. (U) Comment: The figures on population members affected vary
significantly. While WFP indicates they are assisting 47,000
individuals affected by the drought in Djibouti, the MFA
indicates 47,000 families are affected. USAID believes FEWSNET
estimates that 70,000 people require immediate humanitarian
assistance, while 230,000 are "at risk." The Ministry of
Interior plans an assessment before the second week in February
to verify the numbers affected.
END COMMENT.