DJIBOUTI: Poor rains hurting food security

from IRIN

Poor rains and high food prices are likely to lead to increased malnutrition rates in Djibouti, especially among poor urban households and pastoralist communities, an early warning agency has reported.

"No significant rains fell in January throughout Djibouti," the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS Net) stated in an update. "The October to February rains, which replenish pasture and water in coastal areas, have failed so far this season ... pasture [is] depleted in all coastal grazing areas of Djibouti, Tadjourah and Obock."

Noting that the main July to September rainy season had also performed poorly, the February update warned: "Performance of the March to May rains will be critical for pastoralists, but current climatic conditions indicate the coming season may be poor."

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