BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Area: 23 000 sq.km
Climate: Arid climate
Population: 0.52 million (1995 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 950 (1990)
Specific characteristics of the country: Low-income food-deficit country
Logistics: Djibouti is one of the three gateways of Ethiopia
Major foodcrops: Vegetables
Marketing year: January/December
Share of cereals in total calorie intake: n.a.
CURRENT SITUATION
Seasonal rains from April to June brought relief to pastoral areas, affected by severe dry weather conditions in the last rainy season. As a result, the condition of pastures and animals is improving.
Although the poor vegetative and water conditions resulted in unusual migration patterns of the nomadic population, the drought and lack of adequate pastures resulted in an increased incidence of diseases and mortality among livestock. As livestock rearing is the main economic activity in the country, the food situation of the affected population is very tight with serious malnutrition reported in the Tadjoura and Obock districts. Out of an estimated nomad population of 100 000 people in the country, emergency food assistance is being provided to some 50 000 farmers and pastoralists for a period six months.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal production | - | - | - | - |
| Normal imports (incl. re-exports) | 26 | 32 | 2 | 60 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 10 | 7 | 1 | 18 |
| 1995 Production | - | - | - | - |
| 1996 Utilization | 69 | 51 | - | 120 |
| Food use | 37 | 37 | - | 74 |
| Non-food use | - | 1 | - | 1 |
| Re-exports | 27 | 13 | - | 40 |
| Refugee needs | 5 | - | - | 5 |
| 1996 Import Requirement | 69 | 51 | - | 120 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 53 | 46 | - | 99 1/ |
| Food aid needs | 16 | 5 | - | 21 |
| of which: Refugee needs | 5 | - | - | 5 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 6 | - | - | 6 |
| of which: Delivered | 3 | - | - | 3 |
| Estimated per caput consumption (kg/year) | 69 | 69 | - | 138 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1995 production as % of normal: | - | |||
| 1996 import requirement as % of normal: | 200 | |||
| 1996 food aid requirement as % of normal (including refugee needs): | 117 | |||