Aid in Action

News from Djibouti

USAID Donates Computer Equipment and Funding for Flood Warning System

Djibouti  | Friday, February 15, 2008

Highlights of USAID/Djibouti's Activities in January 2008

Computer Equipment Provided for Upcoming Djibouti Legislative Elections

In a ceremony held on January 31, Eric Wong, Deputy Chief of Mission of the American Embassy in Djibouti, and Janet Schulman, USAID/Djibouti Representative, presented computer equipment and office supplies to M. Gueda Mohamed Ahmed of the Ministry of Interior and Decentralization for use in the Djibouti Legislative Elections in February 2008. The equipment, valued at $95,000, comes from the Elections and Political Processes activity of USAID’s Democracy and Governance Program.

Flash Flood Early Warning System to Benefit Djibouti Residents

In April 2004 a devastating flood swept through Djibouti-City, claiming the lives of more than 300 people (unofficial estimate), most of them children. The tragedy occurred in the middle of the night, when most people were asleep in their homes. To prevent a reoccurrence of this tragedy, the Government of the Republic of Djibouti requested USAID funding for a flash flood early warning system. In January of this year, the USG began installation of an early warning system in the Ambouli River Basin. The system is composed of a number of river and rain gauges as well as radio antennas and relays. Staff are currently undergoing training at the Djibouti Center for Research and Studies (CERD) prior to the system becoming operational in March 2008.

USAID Training Programs Help Unemployed Youth Find Work

One of the major goals of USAID’s basic education program is to provide opportunities for out of school youth. USAID/Djibouti has approached this through a variety of innovative programs, featuring partnerships with Djiboutian Ministries, training centers and the port of Djibouti. The latest success has been an apprenticeship program for unemployed youth, in which beneficiaries were placed on six month apprenticeship programs in electrical work, plumbing or sewing. The training was conducted by a local NGO at the UTEH BOKA training center.

On January 31, the 40 apprentices took part in a graduation ceremony attended by the political attaché of the US Embassy, representatives from USAID and the Ministry of Education, and the head and teachers from the NGO. The Head of the NGO has reassured USAID of his commitment to assisting these graduates in finding employment with local companies in Djibouti.

CJTF-HOA Team Donate Medical Equipment

American and Djiboutian parties met in July 2007 to determine gaps in the Ministry of Health’s medical supply system and find the best way to address these needs. The CJTF-HOA team coordinated with Nour Foundation, an American NGO, in conjunction with the Latter Day Saints based in Utah, to provide medical materials that will help to increase the supply of essential health services to the country.

On January 30, Ambassador W. Stuart Symington, Janet Schulman of USAID and Dr R.J. Donovan, Representative of CJTF/HOA, presented Minister of Health Abdallah Abdillahi and other MOH representatives with medical supplies including emergency medical modules, medical supply modules, single and double quilts, new born modules, wheelchairs and powdered milk.

Mr. Abdillahi thanked the Americans for the continuous support to his department, adding that, “together we are improving the quality of life of Djiboutian population.” The Minister also thanked CJTF/HOA for all their support, especially the timely contribution of more than 3,000 boxes of IV fluid given to assist the MOH in their fight against cholera.