Djibouti Humanitarian Background

For more detailed database on disasters by country, please see the Centre for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters:

EMDAT information for Djibouti

For information on Djibouti Humanitarian information on the food security situation, please see the following document:

Djibouti Food Security Information

Calamities and Seasonal Affects

During the rainy season depending on the region, even if it’s not raining in Djibouti, temporary rivers become active due to water from the highlands in Ethiopia and Eritrea.

In Djibouti, casual labourers for handling, work within ethnic groups. Djibouti city is divided into sectors and labourers work with the sector i.e. in the port environs it’s the Afar whereas in other areas in Djibouti such as Zone industrielle it’s the Somalis who work there. 

Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response

Government

Efforts have been done by the Government of Djibouti (GoD) to set up and implement Disaster Risk Management Policy at national level as well as within regional context through regional institution named Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). The Djibouti government is slowly enhancing its institutional capacity for DRM by building the capacity of its national leadership and implementing the HFA. The Republic of Djibouti recognizes the fact that natural disasters are major causes of poverty thus it takes centre stage in its current Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) for FY 2009-2012. The government plans to address disaster vulnerability by integrating DRM into sectarian activities. 

For information on Djibouti Government Emergency Responce,  please see the following document:

Djibouti Capacity and Contacts for Emergency Response

For information on Djibouti Government contact details,  please see the following link:

4.1 Djibouti Government Contact List

Humanitarian Community

For information on Djibouti Humanitarian Agency contact details,  please see the following link:

4.2 Djibouti Humanitarian Agency Contact List

Djibouti Regulatory Departments

For information on Djibouti Regulatory Department contact details, please see the following link: 

4.1 Djibouti Government Contact List

Djibouti Customs Information

Duties and Tax Exemption

For contact information regarding government custom authorities, please follow the link below: 

4.1 Djibouti Government Contact List

For contact information regarding government custom authorities, please see the following link:

Djibouti Customs Department Website

Emergency Response:

[Note: This section contains information which is related and applicable to 'crisis' times. These instruments can be applied when an emergency is officially declared by the Government.  When this occurs, there is usually a streamlined process to import goods duty and tax free.]

Exemption Regular Regime (Non-Emergency Response): 

[Note: This section should contain information on the usual duties & taxes exemption regime during non-emergency times, when there is no declared state of emergency and no streamlines process (e.g. regular importations/development/etc.).]

OPERATIONS EFFECTUEES A DIVERS TITRES.

ART.28.12.01 

• Les envois dépourvus de tout caractère commercial, notamment :

les marchandises expédiées a titre de dons ou acquises par des organismes à caractère humanitaire ou œuvres de bienfaisance et destinées à être distribuées gratuitement à des nécessiteux sinistrés handicapés et autres catégories de personnes dignes d’être secourues.

• Non Commercial commodities, especially :

Commodities received by known humanitarian agencies/organismes within the country should be freely distributed to recognized needy people such as people with disabilities, vulnerable groups and/or all other category of individuals who require assistance.

• Consolidation of custom regulations is not yet updated (work ongoing) and printed for public circulation.
• General compilation of regulations, tariffs, publications, contacts can be obtained at custom website www.douanes.dj (not updated regularly)
• Main advice from market operators is to request custom written confirmation prior shipment specially when not dealing with common deliveries through a reliable C&F agent.

Exemption Certificate Application Procedure: 

Exemption Certificate Document Requirements

Customs Clearance

General Information 

Customs Clearance Document Requirements

Transit Regime

FOR ETHIOPIA:

• Custom clearance is first performed by Addis-Ababa/Ethiopia customs authority which requires presentation of original shipping documentation, for customs to provide their release sign/stamp documentation.

• Thereafter all documentation, Ethiopia Customs documentation & original shipping documents are submitted to Ethiopia custom office based in Djibouti Port for verification of waybills against the permit release form issued by Addis-Ababa and if all are in order authorization to dispatch and/or cross border is given.

• Djibouti custom authorization provides final checking of documentation & cargo released for dispatch and/or border crossing.

FOR OTHER DESTINATIONS:

• Since no other country have customs representation in Djibouti is only require Djibouti customs office intervention & authorization.

Djibouti Port Assessment

Fo rinformation on Djibouti Port contact details, please see the following link: 

4.3 Djibouti Port and Waterways Company Contact List

Djibouti Aviation

Key airport information may also be found at: World Aero Data Website information on Djibouti

For information on Djibouti Aviation contact details, please see the following link: 

4.4 Djibouti Airport Company Contact List

Djibouti-Ambouli is located at about 6 Km far from Djibouti downtown. Djibouti airport has at its disposal, all necessary equipment’s that are required to provide assistance to air navigation and handling operations. This enables aircrafts to land and takeoff safely during the day as well as at night.

Djibouti airport can accommodate all types of existing aircraft (commercial, military, cargo/Passengers, etc…).

For information on Djibouti-Ambouli Airport, please see the following link: 

Djibouti-Ambouli Airport Website

Procedures for Foreign Registered Aircraft

In Djibouti, the following requirements need to be applied, presented and approved before the prepositioning of a foreign registered aircraft:

For insurance of the Djiboutian permits for commercial flights and landing, the required documents include:

• The name of the owner or investor plane

• Aircraft type and MTOW

• Registration code

• LT Number

• Route

• Date and Time of arrival

• Date and Time of departure

• Propose of the flight

It’s important to note that the requests should be submitted 72 hours before operations commence in normal situation and 24 hours for an emergency flight. For military aircraft as well as Humanitarian aircraft, processing through official diplomatic channels is required at least a week before operations or three days for emergency flights.
Regarding the landing fees, payments in cash are required prior to the departure. The permits section operates 24 hours.
All companies are welcomed in Djibouti. Same document and requirements are required for insurance of over flight permits of the Republic of Djibouti. Application for registration of foreign aircraft for ongoing operations within Djibouti need to be made in writing to Civil Aviation office in Djibouti town located at Djibouti airport. Submission of all necessary documents in proper order such as AOC, CofA, CoR, insurance of aircraft, insurance of crew, Radio license, crew license, etc. There are currently no foreign aircraft or private carrier’s operating in Djibouti at main airport.

Djibouti Road Network

Road network in Djibouti comprises of roads classified as urban roads, national roads stretching to a total of 1,193 Km and districts roads totalling to1, 700 Km. 430 km are reported by MTE as paved road and 763 Km are non-paved. In addition from the non-paved roads, among these 763 Km, 311 Km are considered by the ministry as priority roads whereas the rest (452 Km) are non-priority roads.
While some main roads in Djibouti are well maintained, roads are often narrow, poorly lit, or washed-out. Many secondary roads are in poor condition or completely washed-out.

For information on Djibouti Road Network contact details, please see the following link:

4.1 Djibouti Government Contact List

Distance Matrix

Time Travel from Capital City to Major Towns (km) 

Road Security

The Djiboutian Gendarmerie and the national police force share responsibility for road safety in Djibouti. While Djibouti has been declared a “mine-safe” country, this indicates landmines have been identified and marked, not that they have been removed. Landmines are known to be present in northern Tadjourah and Obock districts. In addition, there may be mines in the Ali Sabieh area of the south. Travelers should stay on paved roads and should check with local authorities before using unpaved roads. Driving on Djibouti roads can be hazardous. Since most roads do not have shoulders or sidewalks, pedestrians and livestock use the roadways both day and night. Driving at night is extremely dangerous and strongly discouraged on all roads outside Djibouti City.

Drivers and pedestrians should exercise extreme caution. Minibuses and cars often break down; when breakdowns occur, local drivers usually place branches or rocks behind the vehicle to indicate trouble, but these warning signals are barely visible. Excessive speed, unpredictable local driving habits, pedestrians and livestock in the roadway, and the lack of basic safety equipment on many vehicles are daily hazards.

Speed limits are posted occasionally but are not enforced. The leafy narcotic khat is widely used, particularly in the afternoons, creating other traffic hazards. Travelers should be aware that police set up wire coils as roadblocks on some of the major roads, and these may be difficult to see at night. The two main international routes to the capital city, via Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, and Yoboki, Djibouti, both demand that drivers remain vigilant.
The route towards Dire Dawa is in very poor condition. Both have a high volume of Ethiopian trucks transporting large cargo. Railroad crossings are not clearly marked. However, the overall security issue is considered as GOOD

Weighbridges and Axle Load Limits

Djiboutian road authorities has built / implemented a weighbridge at PK 20, that’s about 20 Km from Djibouti downtown on the main road (RN 1) to Ethiopia. At the moment, the mentioned weighbridge is not used as result of lack of relevant law. The director of Direction of Equipment (Djiboutian Road Agency: DRA) reported that relevant law is under discussion as it has to be decided either, Djibouti law should be 13 MT per axles or should align to the regional one which states that the maximum of load per axle should be less or equal to 11 MT.
The location of the weighbridge was well chosen. Indeed, it’s located along the RN1 which is the only one road used by heavy truck to depart from Djibouti Port on their way to Addis or any other location within the country.

Djibouti Railway Assessment

In 2009, it was reported that there was no passenger service beyond Dire Dawa, hence for several years the Ethio-Djibouti Railways (ED-Railways) had annual deficits and was in need of rehabilitation. The European Commission prepared a grant of EUR 40 million in 2003 and raised it to EUR 50 million in 2006. On November 29, 2006, an agreement was signed with the Italian consortium Costra, and work began in 2007 on sections of the line that deteriorated following the Ogaden War

A change in management was expected to raise the capacity of the railroad from its current average of 240,000 tons to 1.5 million tons. Initially in 2006, the South African firm Comazar was chosen to receive a 25-year concession. However, this plan was not executed, and early in 2008, it was announced that the railway was in negotiations with the Kuwait Company, Fouad Alghanim and Sons Group.

Thereafter Ethiopian government announced that it had spoken with the visiting Indian Minister of State for External Affairs, Shashi Tharoor, during his visit on 29 January 2010, about funding to improve the cargo capacity of the rail track from 14 to 17 tons, which would boost the national trade volume significantly.

The railway is still not useable. However after several years of contradictory announcements and false starts on repairing the existing railway, Ethiopia has unveiled plans to build an entirely new line. The first phase will cost $US 1.2 billion. A Chinese company is to handle the construction and the Chinese government will fund it.

Railway Companies and Consortia

For  information on Djibouti Railway contact details, please see the following link: 

4.5 Djibouti Railway Company Contact List

Djibouti Waterways Assessment

Logistics Cluster_Djibouti Shipping companies (Feb 2016)

Not applicable as there is no permanent waterways at all, therefore no navigable rivers in Djibouti
However, From Djibouti to Tadjourah and Obock, commercial and humanitarian operations use the gulf of Tadjourah to sail by Dhow. Using this portion of red sea impacts consequently on transport cost.

Djibouti Storage Assessment

Warehouses with good storage conditions are available in Free Zones. The inconvenience is that they are bounded warehouse; as a result, this status reduces flexibility which may impact operationally on humanitarian activities aiming to save lives in an emergency operation.
With the continued growth of Port operations in Djibouti, several investors have decided to build warehouses. As a result, Djibouti’s capacity storage will be increased.
In addition and in close collaboration with GoD, WFP has got a plot from the government to erect a logistics Hub which will be able to accommodate more than 20,000 Mt of food as well as 5,000m3 of NFI of Humanitarian assistance. Furthermore 4 silos with a capacity of 10,000 MTN each are also projected to be built and completion expected to be between 2014/15.
Due to high temperatures and humidity in Djibouti, the rotation period of food commodities stored in Djibouti should be less than 4 months especially for Flour.

Commercial Storage

All commercial warehouses in the list are currently rented by WFP. No relevant storages exist in town which are not already taken. See in the attachment complete list of warehouses

Storage Used by Humanitarian Organizations

The Government of Djibouti has made available to WFP Ethiopia a plot of land of approximately 50,000 m2 where WFP Ethiopia plans to construct a Humanitarian Logistics Base (HLB). The HLB will not only sensibly improve WFP’s supply chain for aid destined to Ethiopia but will also bring a number of strategic advantages to the humanitarian community effort in the region.
This vast perimeter of land gives WFP the possibility to plan for HLB to become a truly multipurpose facility capable of handling both food and non-food items as well as to provide facilities to host meetings, workshops and trainings.
The HLB will be built to have a storage capacity of 20,000 MT of bulk and 10,000 MT of break bulk. The warehouse will also provide an area for non-food items storage with an efficient racking system that will maximize storage space.
Moreover, the HLB will also be capable to act as a container yard terminal where arrangements with the Djiboutian Government foresee the HLB to become a designated container terminal for humanitarian cargo.
Various construction options are currently being considered. The driving rationale will rest on key principles such as flexibility, modular capabilities and demands of the supply chain.

Public Sector Storage

Majority of good storage facilities are located in Free Zones or at PAID. PAID have an open storage with capacity of 70,000 MTN of steel, an off-dock automobile storage with capacity for 3000 units opened in January 2009. Djibouti Free Zone operational since October 2004 is developed near the Port and Airport with warehouses of 614 m2 and 1,340 m2; Land plots serviced with utilities ranging from 2,000 m2 to 15,000 m2; light industrial units of 510 m2 with integrated office units plus 1 hangar of 9,100 m2 currently utilized by BMMI which stores pre-position aid from USAID/FFP

Cold Chain

Djibouti Milling Assessment

For information on Djibouti Milling company contact details, please see the following link: 

4.6 Djibouti Storage and Milling Company Contact List

Being a non-food (cereals grain) producer country, economic actors never invest in milling facilities. All over the country, only one milling machine is located inside the port of Djibouti. Furthermore, as the entrance in the port of Djibouti is open to limited users, this facility is not used by common individuals.
As already mentioned, Djibouti imports most of its food commodities for local consumption, as a result, cereals are being imported in break bulk as flour instead of grain in bulk.

Milling Company: Minoterie de la Mer Rouge 

Djibouti Fuel

Although there is currently no upstream (exploration or production) oil activity in Djibouti, the government has tried to generate interest in offshore oil exploration without success. The downstream oil sector however, is an important aspect of Djibouti's economy, given the role the capital city plays as a significant regional bunkering and refuelling facility.
Two companies—TOTAL DJIBOUTI and OILIBYA—handle refuelling at Djibouti's port. The companies distribute and market petroleum products in the country. Storage capacity at the port facility is 1.26 million barrels (200,000 cubic meters).

For information on Djibouti Fuel contact details, please see the following link: 

4.7 Djibouti Fuel Provider Contact List

Fuel Pricing

The price at the pump which is under Government’s control may vary based on taxes and benefits of suppliers as per Government requirement, rules and regulations. Same price is applied by all distributors.
Currently, the market of supplying fuel in Djibouti is under control of two main companies, TOTAL DJIBOUTI and OILIBYA.
TOTAL DJIBOUTI Takes over fuel from TOTAL FRANCE coming from several petroleum fields, whereas OILIBYA handles fuel from Saudi Arabia.

Fuel cargo for both distributors arrives at Horizon Doraleh Terminal Ltd (HDTL), which is the first level of storage. This terminal as mentioned before can accommodate about 371,000 cubic meters.
The price at the pump which is under Government’s control may vary based on taxes and benefits of suppliers as per Government requirement, rules and regulations. Same price is applied by all distributors.

Seasonal Variations 

It’s known that in case of prioritisation, national authorities may instruct distributors to supply in priority fuel to EDD (Electricité de Djibouti) the National electricity power supplier in order to ensure power is supplied within the country.

Fuel Transportation

Ships are offloaded through pipelines into bulk storage.

• From the bulk storage to distribution pump, the fuel is transported by trucks;

• From Djibouti to main town districts, the fuel is transported by trucks, Dohw etc

The facility and capacity that is to be built in Djibouti with the main objective of becoming a regional hub is capable to respond to high demand. For the time being it’s sufficient enough for local demand. As such, there are enough trucks to meet current demand with even more from humanitarian community.
In case of huge increase of local demand there is a possibility to rely on Ethiopian trucks which are more than sufficient to respond to any demand from Djibouti.

Djibouti Transporters

For information on Djibouti Transporters contact details, please see the following link: 

4.8 Djibouti Transporter Contact List

With the exception of transport activities around Djibouti city, the inland local market is an industry restricted by monopolies and political and area specific factors, therefore making it impossible for WFP to set up a transport network based on the best possible transport services acquired through a competitive bid system.
From the past years’ experience, the constraints of the inland transport from Djibouti city to/within district level can be categorized as follows:

• Weak transport capacity.

• Transport monopoly at district level (absence of competition)

• High transport rates.

• Absence of knowledge or resources (financial/workshops, equipment, spare parts) to properly manage transport activities.

• Participation of government institutions in the transport business (preventing external competitors to operate) under the policy umbrella aiming to develop local/district level transport industry.

For information on Djibouti Transporter company information, please see the following document:

Djibouti Transporters Details

Djibouti Additional Service Providers: Vehicle Rental, Taxi Companies, Freight Forwarding Agents, Handling Equipment, Power Generation and ISPs

For information on Djibouti Additional Service Providers contact details, please see the following link:

4.9 Djibouti Additional Service Provision Contact List

Freight Forwarding Agents

For information on Djibouti clearing and forwarding agents, please see the following link:

Logistics Cluster Djibouti Clearing and Forwarding Agent Assessment August 2017

Electricity and Power 

The organization responsible for electricity generation and supply is Electricité du Djibouti, known as the EDB. The organization is state owned. Installed capacity in 1993 was exclusively thermal, with the majority being diesel fired plant.
Djibouti currently has installed electricity generating capacity of 85 megawatts (MW), all of which is thermal (oil-fired). In January 2001, U.S.-based Geothermal Development Associates (GDA) announced that it had completed a feasibility study on the development of a 30-MW geothermal power plant in Djibouti. The study, which commenced in August 2000, established the commercial viability of the proposed generating facility. The $115 million plant, to be located in the Lake Assal region west of the capital, will be constructed on the build own operate (BOO) financing scheme. The Global Environmental Facility (GEF), a joint initiative of the World Bank and the United Nations (UN), has approved a $280,000 financing package to pay for contract negotiations required for the project. To date, however, these funds have not been released. At the same time, however, Electricite de Djibouti, the national electric company, has begun to remove aging diesel-fired generating units. To continue to provide power to rural residents, the government, with the help of a grant from a number of Arab financial institutions, is installing solar and wind capacity. The primary goal of the project is to replace old diesel powered rural water pumps with new ones powered by renewable resources, but excess energy will be used for electrification. Ethiopia has made plans to begin exporting electrical power to Djibouti and Sudan by 2010.

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

From the city of Djibouti, telephone connections are available by satellite to Europe and the West and by land line to the main cities and towns of the interior; there were 16,800 mainline telephones and 128,800 cellular phones in use throughout the country in 2009.
All media are government controlled. In 1983, Djibouti inaugurated a powerful state-owned AM radio transmitting station, built with French and FRG funds. A television service was first introduced in 1967. Both are state run and broadcast in French, Afar, Somali and Arabic. As of 2007, there were 2 radio stations and 1 television station. In 1997, there were 77 radios and 37 television sets per 1,000 populations.
There were 13,000 internet users in 2008.

This is not an exhaustive list. WFP maintains complete impartiality and is not in a position to endorse or comment on any company’s suitability as a reputable supplier/service provider. The list is provided for general information only and the inclusion of a company on the list does not imply recommendation by WFP "  

Djibouti Manual Labor Costs

In Djibouti there is ample availability of manual labour on the market. Please see the following link for related regulations:

Afribiz Website on Djibouti Laws and Regulations

Casual Labour requirements are usually provided for by respective service providers  such as transporters, stevedoring companies, freight forwarders etc…, therefore this specific service is incorporated into the main services rendered by the service provider, as a result of a distinct lack of any organization dedicated solely to labour provision as the demand is already catered for.

Djibouti Telecommunications 

Telephone facilities in the city of Djibouti are adequate, as are the microwave radio relay connections to outlying areas of the country. Djibouti Telecom is the sole provider of telecommunications services and utilizes mostly a microwave radio relay network; fibre-optic cable is installed in the capital; rural areas connected via wireless local loop radio systems. Mobile cellular coverage is primarily limited to the area in and around Djibouti city.

• International country code - 253; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 and EASSy fibre-optic submarine cable systems providing links to Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North America.
• Satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean and 1 Arabsat)
• Medarabtel regional microwave radio relay telephone network
• Main lines in use: 18,400 (2011)
• Mobile cellular subscribers: 193,000 (2011)
• Internet country code: .dj Internet hosts: 215 (2012) 

Telecommunication Regulation

Djibouti Food Suppliers, Accommodation and Other Markets

For information on Djibouti Food Suppliers, Accommodation and Other Markets contact details, please see the following link:

4.9 Djibouti Additional Service Provision Contact List

Main Food Suppliers

Djibouti is not a food producer country. Almost all food available in the local market is imported.
Because of climate conditions combined with small market there is no medium or long commercial/government set up for food storage.

Accommodation

Geographically, all recommended hotels are concentrated in downtown and commercial area of the city or in the Plateau du Serpent, a residential area behind embassies and international organisations.

Djibouti Government Contact List

Djibouti Humanitarian Agency Contact List

BP:2085

Djibouti Port and Waterways Company Contact List

Logistics Cluster_Djibouti Shipping companies (Feb 2016)

Djibouti Airport Company Contact List

Djibouti Railway Company Contact List

Djibouti Storage and Milling Company Contact List

Djibouti Fuel Provider Contact List

Djibouti Transporter Contact List

Djibouti Additional Service Provision Contact List

For further information on Djibouti clearing and forwarding agents, please see the following link:

Logistics Cluster_Djibouti Clearing and Forwarding-Agents_150519

This is not an exhaustive list. WFP maintains complete impartiality and is not in a position to endorse or comment on any company’s suitability as a reputable supplier/service provider. The list is provided for general information only and the inclusion of a company on the list does not imply recommendation by WFP