Karan/Karma rains slowly begin but do not fully restore pasture and livestock conditions

In cumulative terms, Djibouti benefited from above-average Diraac/Sugum rains, which improved pasture, livestock body conditions, and productivity. However, following two years of El Niño-related dryness, especially in the Southeast Pastoral zone (Dikhil and Ali Sabieh) and in pastoral areas above Obock, pasture conditions have not been fully restored. The Karan/Karma rains   started in July but so far have been below-average. As a result, poor households in Obock, Dikhil, and Ali Sabieh regions still face Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes.

Poor urban and rural households, who typically earn most of their income from daily labor, continue to face reduced income-earning opportunities as labor demand seasonally subsides during this period of high temperatures, which largely coincides with the lean season that extends through September. Since staple food prices for sorghum, wheat, and rice have remained generally stable in July across the country, this has supported food market access. 

Djibouti hosts more than 20,000 refugees from Yemen, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia, and the majority are entirely dependent on food and non-food assistance from humanitarian organizations. In addition, there are approximately 16,000 transit migrants and returnees. On June 30, WFP reported that it has prioritized food distributions in order to stretch resources for Djibouti’s refugees and warned of a potential pipeline break in December 2016 if there was not adequate funding.