News12019 / Pixabay
The UN warned on Friday that Djibouti is facing severe, emergency-level hunger following the release of a report on the food insecurity situation
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (ICP) Index’s report projected that between July and December 2026, more than 25 percent of Djibouti’s population, 256,000 people, are facing IPC Phase 3 or above (Crisis or worse), with “around 30,000 in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency).” The report identified “price shocks linked to import dependence,” “the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz,” “low purchasing power,” and “the effects of strong El Niño conditions” as factors linked to the worsening food insecurity crisis. The ICP also highlighted that refugees are the most impacted group.
The ICP report warned that “urgent interventions are needed” to prevent further deterioration. These included anticipatory emergency responses, expansion of food and fund distribution to households most in need of assistance, protection of agropastoral livelihoods such as livestock and fishing against climate change impacts, and the scaling up of nutrition awareness
In June, the World Meteorological Organization warned that warm ocean waters are fueling the development of an El Niño event in June through August 2026. It highlighted that the Greater Horn of Africa, where Djibouti is situated, will experience “below-normal rainfall” during “the critical June-September rainy season.”
Climate change has had a significant impact on vulnerable communities, and has been raised by the UN as a human rights issue. In December 2025, Professor Joyeeta Gupta told the UN that “the impacts of climate change violate the rights of more than one per cent of the global population, around 100 million people.” Gupta also highlighted that climate change creates displaced populations who are yet to be recognized as “climate refugees” by international law
