DJIBOUTI - UNHCR RECEIVES SUPPORT FROM DONORS

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000842 STATE FOR AF/E AND PRM/AFR ADDIS ABABA FOR REFCOORD NAIROBI FOR RDRAPCHO AND REFCOORD GENEVA FOR KPERKINS CJTF-HOA FOR POLAD SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF EAID DJ XA SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI - UNHCR RECEIVES SUPPORT FROM DONORS ¶1. SUMMARY: Post awarded a USD 20,000 grant to American-led NGO LIFE International to assist refugees in Djibouti with skills training. The UNHCR mission in Djibouti received donations from donor countries and NGOs during the holy month of Ramadan, and also received non-food items originally intended for a refugee camp in Liberia that is now closed. END SUMMARY. -------------- AMBASSADOR'S FUND GRANT SIGNED -------------- ¶2. On September 18, Post signed a grant agreement with Djibouti-based American-led NGO Local Initiatives for Education (LIFE) International, awarding LIFE a USD 20,000 grant to implement a sustainable skills training program at Ali Addeh, Djibouti's sole refugee camp. The grant will finance the purchase of sewing machines and materials, tables, chairs, and other necessary teaching equipment, as well as the cost of training on the proper care and maintenance of the machines. Additional skills such as bookkeeping and literacy--as well as health issues--will also be included in the course, to promote independence of participants. LIFE is expected to train between 60-80 men and women during its five- to six-month program. Special sessions will be held on the formation and functions of a cooperative/association. LIFE will shape training to help ensure the sustainability of the project upon completion. ¶3. LIFE International has worked for 20 years in refugee camps in Kenya and has been working in Djibouti for the last 14 years. It has participated in many successful initiatives and social development projects, in partnership with the Government of Djibouti. -------------- THE SPIRIT OF GIVING DURING RAMADAN -------------- ¶4. During Ramadan, the Chaplain's office at Camp Lemonier, the U.S. military facility in Djibouti, provided 180 donated blankets to UNHCR for refugees. UNHCR included the blankets in a special Eid distribution at the end of the holy month of Ramadan. The Eid packages were made available during the monthly food distribution at the refugee camp. In addition to the blankets, the Eid packages included personal hygiene items and extra protein (whole red lentils and canned tuna),supplied by UNHCR. -------------- ADDITIONAL AID FROM DONOR COUNTRIES AND NGOs -------------- ¶5. During the month of September, Saudi Arabia donated 381,147 USD in emergency relief goods to UNHCR Djibouti. ¶6. Australia will fund the salary for a Camp Coordinator, who will work and live at the refugee camp for three to six months to coordinate and oversee the restructuring of the camp's infrastructure, including the food distribution center. This position is expected to be filled by year's end. ¶7. On September 18, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) visited the refugee camp, and expressed interest in implementing a handicraft activity project for refugees at the camp. -------------- NON-FOOD ITEMS - NEW SUPPLY -------------- ¶8. When the UNHCR refugee camp in Liberia closed early this year, UNHCR Representative Ann EnContre, took the initiative to request and receive new non-food items (NFIs),i.e. mats, blankets, plastic sheeting, tents, mosquito nets, lamps, jerry cans, kitchen sets, soap, etc., which remained at that camp's warehouse. The NFIs arrived in Djibouti in September. Since those items had already been purchased, EnContre paid only for the shipment of supplies. The NFIs will be distributed to new arrivals and to those who have not received a replacement in over 10 years. This is the first time in 10 years that UNHCR has had the ability to replace old non-food items. ¶9. COMMENTS: The UNHCR mission in Djibouti faces many hurdles and uphill battles; however, with continued support from donors and NGOs, it continues to progress in providing better assistance to refugees in Djibouti. END COMMENT. WONG