ReliefWeb

Situation

• Overall, the 2017 rainy seasons in Djibouti performed well, supporting pasture regeneration, increased water availability and near-average vegetation conditions. While the October-to-February rains were slightly below average, most households have improved food access due to a seasonal increase in access to milk and other livestock products, according to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET).

• Currently, fewer than 50,000 people in Djibouti are experiencing Crisis (IPC 3) or worse levels of acute food insecurity.* This population is primarily poor pastoral households in the southeast who have not yet rebuilt their herds following three years of poor rainfall, and refugees who are dependent on humanitarian assistance. FEWS NET expects the population experiencing Crisis will increase to approximately 50,000 people in mid-2018 as poor households face difficulty meeting their basic food needs during the lean season.

• Djibouti hosts approximately 27,000 refugees from neighboring countries, primarily originating from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia and, more recently, Yemen. The majority of this population are long-term refugees who have resided in camps in Ali Sabieh Region for up to 20 years. Refugee camps in Djibouti are located in very isolated areas and refugees have very limited livelihood opportunities, leaving them dependent on assistance and vulnerable to food insecurity.

• The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) is a standardized tool that aims to classify the severity and magnitude of food insecurity. The IPC scale, which is comparable across countries, ranges from Minimal—IPC 1—to Famine—IPC 5.