Djibouti City (Dawan Africa) - The Government of Djibouti and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have issued a joint call for urgent action regarding the deteriorating refugee situation in the country, according to a statement from the Djiboutian News Agency (ADI). This call came after a meeting held at the Institute of Diplomatic Studies (IED) on August 3, 2025.
During the meeting, key officials from both sides, including Abdulkader Houssein Omar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Said Nouh Hassan, Minister of the Interior, Ahmed Robleh Abdilleh, Minister of Health, and Sandrine Dominique, the UNHCR Representative for Djibouti, discussed the ongoing challenges facing refugees in the country.
The statement notes that the situation has worsened significantly due to a reduction in international funding and the ongoing drought. According to the government, more than 9,000 families are facing severe challenges related to food, water, education, healthcare, and sanitation.
Ahmed Robleh Abdilleh, the Minister of Health, emphasized the gravity of the situation, saying: "We are facing a difficult situation regarding the protection of refugees since the beginning of this year."
The statement from the agency added that UNHCR has called for a coordinated international response to address the crisis, stressing that funding for refugee protection programs has decreased by 50%.
The report further revealed that the refugee crisis has escalated since the beginning of 2025, with alarming statistics. 10,000 children are at risk of missing out on education from September 2025, 34,000 refugees and asylum seekers are struggling with limited access to healthcare services, and 28,000 displaced people face threats to their access to drinking water.
The Government of Djibouti has warned that if the situation remains unaddressed, it will severely affect human development, reduce productivity, and impose significant social and economic costs on Djibouti and the international community.
