Import-Dependent and Hunger-Stricken, Djibouti’s Poorest Find Relief in LIFE’s Food Basket Program
- ajoyce140
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Djibouti, a small African nation on the Red Sea, is facing a complex and overlapping humanitarian crisis. Recurring droughts, seasonal floods, locust swarms, and disease outbreaks have placed enormous strain on families. On top of that, Djibouti is hosting around 35,000 refugees and asylum seekers fleeing conflict and instability in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Yemen, stretching the country’s limited resources even further.
Climate shocks like prolonged drought and sudden flooding continue to worsen conditions, driving up malnutrition, displacement, and food insecurity. These same conditions are also contributing to recurring outbreaks of disease. The hardest-hit communities, those living in drought-affected areas, face the most significant challenges: devastated livelihoods, scarce resources, and limited access to food or clean water.
A major contributor to this crisis is Djibouti’s dependence on imports for over 90% of its food. This dependence on imports makes the country highly vulnerable to fluctuations in the global market. Rising food prices, combined with high unemployment (40%) and widespread poverty (79%), have deepened hunger and hardship. Alarmingly, 42% of the population lives in extreme poverty. For many families, every day is a struggle to survive. Malnutrition among children continues to rise, a heartbreaking sign of how urgent the situation has become.
Asha, a 32-year-old mother of six, lives in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Djibouti City. Her husband is too ill to work, and Asha takes on odd jobs whenever she can, but it’s rarely enough to support her children. “We are so poor I couldn’t even afford a simple meal for my family,” she said, eyes heavy with worry.
Even during Ramadan, a time when families gather to break their fast with warm, nourishing meals, Asha often has nothing to serve. “I see others having Iftar, but we barely have enough to survive,” she said.
Ahmed, a 68-year-old grandfather, shares a cramped one-room home with his daughter and four grandchildren. Suffering from arthritis, he can’t work, and the family relies on his daughter’s modest income as a cleaner. The children often go to bed hungry. “It breaks my heart to watch them suffer,” Ahmed said.
In early March, just before Ramadan, Life for Relief and Development provided critical food aid to 100 struggling households in Djibouti City. Each food basket included staples like rice, flour, sugar, and dates, enough to last the entire month.
For Asha, the food basket was the ability to serve her children a meal without worry for the first time in a long time.
Ahmed was moved to tears when he received his. “Since we received the basket, my grandchildren have been eating well. Thank you to the donors of LIFE.”
As we reflect on the hardships faced by families like Asha’s and Ahmed’s, LIFE would like to thank its donors. Your generosity brought comfort to many suffering families and individuals.
The crisis in Djibouti is far from over. Hunger persists, and families are still struggling. Your continued support helps us reach more people. Together, we can work towards people in Djibouti and all over the world not having to wonder where their next meal is coming from.
Photo of a Life for Relief and Development USA (LIFE) team member preparing the food basket distribution in Djibouti.
