Emergency Alert: 25% of Djibouti Population Faces Severe Hunger Spike, UN Warns

More than 256,000 people in Djibouti—around 25 percent of the population—are likely to face crisis or emergency level hunger over the coming months, a UN-backed global food monitoring network warned in a new report released Friday. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) index reveals a significant increase from the previous May to June period, with refugees in the Ali Addeh and Holl-Holl camps bearing the brunt. Nearly 70 percent of camp residents, over 21,000 people, have been classified under crisis level or above.

The report highlights three main contributors: climate hazards from looming El Niño conditions, high food prices due to disruptions around the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, and economic shocks from inflation. These factors are drastically reducing agricultural production, disrupting supply chains, and suffocating purchasing power for rural and peri-urban households.

The scope of food assistance provided so far remains generally insufficient, leading to significant food consumption deficits and high rates of acute malnutrition. IPC, established after the 2004 Somalia famine, aims to prevent widespread starvation through early warnings. Urgent actions are needed to reduce consumption deficits and strengthen resilience.

Article source: allafrica.com | Image credit: UN News – Welcome to the United Nations