According to the WFP EFSA conducted in May, some 67,000 Djiboutian are food insecure. The number of severely food insecure Djiboutians has increased from 36,200 in 2011 to 42,600 in 2012. 36 per cent of households rely on unsustainable income sources and 20 per cent exclusively rely on aid (+11 per cent compared to 2011).
Although rainfall fluctuations and drought are intrinsic features of the country’s semi-arid climate, this year current and projected rainfall is far below the normal average (-30 per cent). The lower animal production resulting from fodder shortages, limited grazing areas and low access to water will particularly affect pastoralists and rural dwellers. High food prices are also exacerbating chronic poverty. Staple food prices increased 0.7 per cent in June and 2.9 per cent in July as a result of the lean season in the main importing countries, notably Ethiopia, and high transport costs. On average, currently 73.6 per cent of the households’ daily global expenditure is devoted to food purchases.
Furthermore, the continued influx of refugees from Somalia is leading to an increase of humanitarian needs in both rural and urban areas. Some 200 refugees are arriving in Djibouti every month and add to the existing caseload. In total, Djibouti is currently hosting some 20,000 refugees from Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea.
October 2012