USAID Provides Drought Assistance to Djibouti

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced that it will provide $1.1 million to the World Food Program (WFP) for their drought emergency operations in Djibouti. This assistance will provide over 2,000 Metric Tons (MT) in food commodities to the country. Since October 2005, USAID has contributed $800,000 in emergency humanitarian food assistance to Djibouti.

The pastoral drought within the Greater Horn of Africa is particularly serious for approximately 7 million farmers and herders found in an arid region which connects Northeastern Kenya, Southern Somalia, Southern Ethiopia and parts of Djibouti. In Djibouti, drought conditions over the past few years have spread malnutrition and a significant number of livestock have died.

The U.S. Government commends the Government of Djibouti for their assistance in the delivery of aid to the affected populations.

We urge other donor governments to act quickly to help alleviate the current suffering and to help prevent human catastrophe in the Horn of Africa. Both food assistance and non-food assistance (medicines, immunizations, water well rehabilitation and emergency livestock interventions) are urgently required.

USAID will continue to monitor the situation in Djibouti and the region and will provide updates as necessary.

Source: USAID

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