© UNICEF/Djibouti/2008
A young girl from Djibouti city is protected from genital mutilation and violence through the community based programme of promotion of human rights.
Djibouti
In 2013, UNICEF and partners plan for:
8,000
children under 5 with severe acute malnutrition admitted to therapeutic care treated
100,000
children under 5 receive high-impact health interventions
60,000
people access safe water
2013 requirements (US$)
Humanitarian Situation
Children are particularly vulnerable to the impact of the drought despite the fact that the northwest pastoral livelihood zone received average to above-average rainfall, with patterns ranging between 75 and 200 per cent above the seasonal average. However, water scarcity has persisted in many locations, particularly in Djibouti city and the northwestern part of the country. Although the rains were generally favourable, dependence on food assistance remains high and more than 60 per cent of household’s food supply derived from food assistance. The nutrition situation remains worrying in Djibouti, with 20 per cent of under-five children suffering from acute malnutrition, including 5 per cent who suffer from severe acute malnutrition1. Epidemics have also emerged with more than 600 cases of measles reported between January and August 2012, as well as seasonal acute water diarrhoea, mainly in Djibouti city and Dikhil. An estimated 210,000 people are in need of humanitarian assistance: 120,000 people in rural areas; 60,000 in urban areas; and 30,000 refugees from Somalia and Ethiopia.
Planned results for 2013
2013 Programme Targets
Nutrition
- 8,000 children under 5 with severe acute malnutrition admitted to therapeutic care treated
- 75,000 children under 5 access micronutrient supplements
Health
- 100,000 children under 5 receive high-impact interventions, including measles and polio vaccines, deworming tablets and vitamin A supplementation
WASH
- 60,000 people access water as per sphere standards
- 120,000 emergency-affected people informed of safe hygiene and sanitation practices through information campaigns
- 60,000 people live in faeces free environment
Child Protection
- 2,000 children access recreational kits
Education
- 4,000 school-aged children access quality education
- 2 school infrastructures for refugees will be improved
HIV and AIDS
- 45 000 young people will access HIV/AIDS messages
In 2013, UNICEF will support the Ministry of Health’s efforts to improve the health of pregnant women and children through life-saving interventions, including measles and polio immunization, deworming, and vitamin A supplementation through community-based interventions. In nutrition, to reach 8,000 malnourished children, UNICEF will support the procurement of therapeutic milk, ready-to-use therapeutic foods and essential drugs for the management of severe malnutrition. Appropriate technical support will be provided for emergency nutrition response, micronutrient supplementation and appropriate infant and young child feeding promotion. To assist 60,000 people affected by the water scarcity, particularly in the northwest region, UNICEF will support the construction and protection of underground cisterns, the rehabilitation of traditional wells and water quality monitoring, as well as the replacement of water trucking with more sustainable water supply solutions when feasible. In anticipation of the 2013 drought season, equipment will be prepositioned in order to repair and/or replace defunct pumps and generators. UNICEF will facilitate children’s access to education with basic school kits and manuals, as well as improve shelter and infrastructure for schools in the poorest areas. Educational support will include the development of community schools for both early childhood and primary levels. Appropriate sanitation facilities will be installed in schools in the newly established refugee camp in Hol Hol, while rehabilitation and maintenance works will be carried out in existing schools.
UNICEF child protection programme will build upon progress made in the establishment of community-based systems for the detection, referral and reporting of child rights violations. In addition, a drop-in centre will provide 500 street children with safe access to basic services, as well as a protective environment for learning, recreation and socialization. UNICEF’s leadership of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Nutrition Clusters will enable longer-term planning for activities and provide clarity of the direction of Cluster partnerships.
Results from 2012
UNICEF appealed for US$8,390,000 for its activities in Djibouti; as of the end of October, a total of US$2,979,351 or 36 per cent were received as contributions, enabling UNICEF and its partners to achieve a number of results. Support was provided to the Ministry of Health in expanding the community-based management of acute malnutrition covering 30 health facilities and 40 community sites throughout the country and in conducting a measles campaign for 95,225 children between the ages of 9−59 months, with 90,603 children being vaccinated (95 per cent). The response did not only focus on delivering programmes, but also helped to build capacity at the local level. In 2012, UNICEF supported 113,000 people with access to safe drinking water, improved sanitation and hygiene in the drought-affected areas. People now have access to safe water supplies, rehabilitated wells, cisterns and hygiene supplies. The provision of non-food items (NFIs) was coupled with an extensive hygiene campaign particularly in Balballa city, where the risk of diarrhoea diseases is high. UNICEF provided financial support to two international non-governmental organisations to enable some 2,882 vulnerable and very poor children to access education. In addition, conditional cash transfers were provided to 700 orphans and vulnerable children and 295 street children were supported with basic needs and toolkits, in partnership with Caritas.
UNICEF funding requirements for 2013
In line with the country’s Inter-Agency Consolidated Appeal for 2013, UNICEF is requesting US$7,980,000 to meet the humanitarian needs of children. Without additional funding, UNICEF will be unable to support the national response to the country’s continuing nutrition crisis as well as provide critical WASH services to internally displaced people and refugees also affected by the drought. Basic supplies for primary education are also urgently needed to uphold children’s right to education.
1OCHA, Djibouti Consolidated Appeal, Mid-Year Review 2012, OCHA Geneva July 2012