World Food Programme Fighting Hunger Worldwide

Djibouti is experiencing its fourth consecutive year of drought. The 2011 lean season started in April, about two months earlier than normal in most of the pastoral areas of Djibouti. The overall food security situation has gradually worsened in recent months and it is not expected to improve for at least 6 months. The failure of the recent rains has resulted in the increasing loss of livestock and in the livelihoods of pastoralists being severely eroded. High food prices have also taken their toll. Prices of staple foods continue to exceed the purchasing power of poor urban and rural households who remain largely dependent on imported food for their needs. The combination of drought conditions and increased insecurity in Somalia have led to some 800 Somali refugees arriving in Djibouti every month. Many of them, particularly the children, women and the elderlyelderly, are often in poor health and suffering from malnutrition. To support the country through the current crisis, WFP has increased its assistance during recent and is currently assisting some 109,000 people in Djibouti.