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Precarious food situation in rural areas

[Djibouti] An Afar community living in drought-stricken Buia region, near the Ethiopian border. IRIN
Soaring food prices and persistent drought have particularly hurt the poor
    NAIROBI

    The food situation in rural areas of Djibouti is precarious and there is a need to accelerate emergency food distribution in the tiny Horn of Africa country, an early warning network has reported.

    "Prices for staple foods and non-foods are increasing significantly, with negative impacts on poor households in both rural and urban areas," the USAID-funded Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS Net) said in its food security update for August.

    FEWS Net said a continuous rural exodus had been witnessed in the majority of secondary cities, and even in the capital, Djibouti city.

    "Animal productivity declined significantly and the current delay of karan/karma [June-October] rains raises concern for the food security of the livestock dependent rural population," it added.

    Djibouti is suffering from a drought following three failed rainy seasons.

    In June, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that an urgent flash appeal made in April for US $7.5 million in drought relief for Djibouti had received almost no response.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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