Attachments
Context
The Republic of Djibouti, covering an area of 23,200 kilometres, is in the Horn of Africa, at the junction of the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, on the Gulf of Aden. Djibouti is considered resource-scarce and is prone to natural disasters which can be further exacerbated by water scarcity, poor water management and poor land-use planning. With no permanent rivers for surface water and inadequate underground potential, the country faces challenges regarding access to clean and safe water. Water scarcity contributes to climate effects such as droughts.
Djibouti is a highly arid country with little arable soil. Nearly 90 per cent of the country is classified as desert, with approximately 9 per cent considered as pasture and about 1 per cent as forest. The vegetation terrain is comprised of arid lands scattered with shrubs throughout the country’s plateaus, plains, volcanic formations, and mountain ranges, some reaching 2,000 metres in height.
Djibouti has been struggling with drought due to the effects of climate change. Irregular rainy seasons are compounded by water shortages, COVID-19 restrictions, and the high cost of living due to the Russia-Ukraine war. According to the latest integrated food security phase classification (IPC) from July – December 2023, it is estimated that around 285,000 people, representing 24 per cent of the population, are acutely food insecure, with an estimated 100,000 people in IPC Phase 4, (corresponding to an emergency situation) and an estimated 185,000 are in IPC Phase 3 (corresponding to a crisis situation). At the same time, rates of malnourishment are increasing among children.