Djibouti: Drought [OCHA-02: 21-Sep-99]

Djibouti Drought
OCHA SITUATION REPORT No. 2
21 September 1999


General Situation

1.  The findings of the multi-agency mission to three of the five
drought?affected districts ( OCHA, situation report No.1, para 4) have
been consolidated and issued by the office of the Resident Coordinator.  
Security reasons have prevented the planned visit to the two northern
districts of Tadjourah and Obock.  Information provided by the Ministry of
Interior indicates that the drought has affected people in six areas in
Tadjourah, all bordering Ethiopia and Eritrea and in five areas in Obock.

2.  Taking into account that drought is endemic in Djibouti, the mission
considers the current situation, which affects the country at large, as
having the potential to turn into a catastrophe.  Independently of the
demographic pressure from refugees and clandestine immigration into
Djibouti, the mission estimates that 80,000 people are in need, of which
30,000 require immediate assistance.

3.  The mission made the following observations on the impact of the
drought in the three districts visited:


Water and Pastures

4.  Most vegetation covers around small water holes have disappeared,
causing significant animal losses, on which the livelihood of the local
pastoralists depends. Where water is still available, the mission noted a
high degree of salinity, rendering it unfit for human consumption.  In
areas with boreholes, the mission noted that neither the local population
nor the administration had the means for proper maintenance. The mission
concluded that without rainfall or trucking of water to the population a
life -threatening situation would develop.


Economic consequences

5.  Signs of deteriorating levels of life for the nomadic population were
abundant.  The herds, their capital and purchasing power is in the process
of eroding due to the degradation of the state of the animals. Traditional
surviving mechanisms, i.e. across border movements to other pastures, are
not functioning because of the insecurity reigning in the neighbouring
countries.  The mission strongly underlined the exacerbating impact the
general economic crisis of the country is having on the drought-affected
population:  their urban relatives find it near impossible to assist them
with basic food stuffs or money as they normally do in difficult times.


Health/Nutrition

6.  Figures and observations confirm that children are among the most
vulnerable group:  in Djibouti district alone, the Ministry of Health has
registered 10,000 malnourished children, 3,000 severely.  The mission
confirmed the existence of malnutrition among children in other districts.
In particular, the mission noted the absence of regular vaccination
campaigns by the health centers visited. This fact coupled with a lack of
supervision by health authorities at the district level has had noticeable
effects on the overall health status of the population.  Many health
centres were found to be without basic medicaments, and where they still
were available, most of them had already perished.


International Response ( values in USD)

OCHA

relief flight from Pisa warehouse with goods donated by Italy and Norway
including:  1 water purification unit, 6,000 collapsible jerry cans, 1,500
blankets and 300 kitchen sets, 5 water tanks of 3,500ltrs capacity,.  8
water tanks of 7,500 ltrs. Capacity. Value: 152,542


WFP

306 t rice, 18 sugar, 36 t flour to feed to cover emergency needs for one
month value: 198,000


UNDP

50,000 for relief logistics


UNICEF

8,000 vaccines (polio,DTC, TT BCG) value: 7,923


7.  OCHA is prepared to serve as a channel for cash contributions for the
immediate relief needs. Funds channelled through OCHA will be spent in
coordination with the relevant organizations of the UN system and OCHA
will provide written confirmation of their use. Funds should be
transferred to OCHA Account No.  CO-590.160.1 at the UBS AG, PO Box 2770,
CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland, with reference: OCHA -Djibouti Drought
1999.


8.  For coordination purposes, donors are requested to inform OCHA Geneva,
as indicated below, of relief missions, pledges or contributions and their
corresponding values by item.

9.  This Situation Report and further information on ongoing emergencies
are also available on the OCHA Internet Website at: http://
www.reliefweb.int.


Telephone number: + 41-22-917-12 34
In case of emergency only: + 41-22- 917 20 10
Desk Officers: Mr. Klaus Wiersing, Head, Africa Desk
Disaster Response Branch, direct Tel:41 22 917 2270
Contact person for the media: Ms. Elena Ponomareva, direct tel:
+41-22-917 23 36
Telex 4142 42 OCHA CH
Fax: + 41-22 917 00 73
E-mail: info@un.org



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