DJIBOUTI DISASTER DECLARATION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DJIBOUTI 000473 AIDAC SIPDIS USAID/DCHA FOR MHESS, GGOTTLIEB DCHA/OFDA FOR KLUU, ACONVERY, KCHANNELL, WMILLER DCHA/FFP FOR JBORNS, JDWORKEN AFR/EA FOR BDUNFORD STATE FOR AF, AF/E AND PRM USUN FOR TMALY BRUSSELS FOR PBROWN GENEVA FOR NKYLOH USMISSION UN ROME FOR RNEWBERG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR EAID PGOV DJ SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI DISASTER DECLARATION ¶1. THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. PLEASE SEE PARAGRAPH 8. ¶2. SUMMARY. Several years of continuous drought and the lack of social safety nets have eroded the livelihood and humanitarian conditions for pastoralists in rural Djibouti. On April 17, Djibouti's Deputy Minister for International Cooperation declared a humanitarian emergency in most areas of Djibouti. The minister highlighted the devastating nature of the drought which has worsened the precarious food situation of rural people, as evidenced by the global acute malnutrition rate of 28.6 per cent and the 25,000 severely malnourished children identified in urban and rural areas of Djibouti. The minister requested international support to assist the affected populations and respond to the crisis. There is emergency need for food, water, health interventions, and support to animals in the emergency areas for at least a six-month period. The Chief of Mission concurs that an adequate response is beyond the capacity of the Djibouti government, and through this disaster declaration, requests USG assistance of USD 500,000 to support the humanitarian response. END SUMMARY. -------------- BACKGROUND -------------- ¶3. Djibouti is a low-income food-deficit country (LIFDC) and ranks 154 of 177 on the UNDP Human Development Index. Approximately 75 per cent of the population lives in relative poverty, and infant mortality is very high at 103 per 1,000 live births. Unemployment is widespread at 60 per cent, and the country normally fills consumption gaps with large- scale imports and food aid assistance. Most Djiboutians earn a living through livestock-rearing and follow a nomadic lifestyle. USAID/Djibouti currently provides USD 1.98 million in developmental programming to support health, education, good governance, and famine early warning assistance. -------------- CURRENT SITUATION -------------- ¶4. The drought in Djibouti has continued through late 2007 and early 2008. Both the September and March/April seasonal rains in Djibouti failed, which affected pasture regeneration critical to support livestock, the main source of livelihood for pastoralists. Drought has severely compromised the livelihood of the pastoralists since 2000. Domestic animals have perished in significant numbers; over 50 per cent of Djibouti's livestock has perished due to lack of water and pasture. Terms of trade and milk production have declined by 80 per cent (USAID-funded FEWSNET tracks local livelihood indicators). FEWSNET Djibouti reported in April that 80,000 people are affected; by the end of May, the number is expected to rise to 100,000. Currently only 50,000 rural people are being provided food aid assistance through WFP. ¶5. Djibouti's government (GODJ) reports that pastoralists (who comprise approximately 20 per cent of the population) are migrating to the country's capital in increasing numbers, after losing their household assets. None of the migrants from the rural areas who have settled on the edges of town and in the city are being supported with food aid. The GODJ, FEWSNET, and the UN system are planning a more detailed and formal assessment in order to identify and register those affected by the drought and price increases. Rainfall is not expected to resume until September 2008. -------------- RESPONSE -------------- DJIBOUTI 00000473 002 OF 002 ¶6. In a recent letter addressed to the USAID Administrator, Djibouti's foreign minister formally requests USG assistance and food aid. The Deputy Minister for International Cooperation called donors to an emergency meeting, after an assessment facilitated by UNICEF and the GODZJ highlighted the impact of the drought on livestock, women, and children in rural areas. ¶7. There are no major international NGOs with emergency response capacity operational in Djibouti. UNICEF has the capacity and interest in providing emergency assistance to vulnerable populations in urban and rural settings, and can rapidly respond with USG resources to address the impact of drought and food insecurity. The exit strategy for such a response will coincide with the arrival of the September/October rains, which should regenerate pasturelands and improve animal conditions and thus the people's welfare. -------------- DISASTER DECLARATION -------------- ¶8. ACTION REQUEST. As Chief of Mission, I hereby declare that a disaster exists in Djibouti caused by the persistence of drought conditions, and request that USAID Office of Disaster Assistance (OFDA) funds be made available to assist the affected population. The Government of Djibouti is not able to adequately respond to the emergency needs, and is willing to accept international assistance. It is in the interest of the USG to help. Based on emergency needs, Embassy requests USD 500,000 in disaster assistance funds for UNICEF Djibouti to implement an emergency response program for affected populations. Funding would go towards supplementary feeding for up to 25,000 acutely malnourished children. UNICEF has a successful track record in Djibouti with respect to management of health activities and will coordinate with Djibouti's Ministry of Health. Mission will continue to monitor the affects of the drought and the response to it and provide additional information when available. SYMINGTON