VZCZCXRO5349
PP RUEHDE RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUEHDJ #0842 3010808
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 270808Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9633
INFO RUCNSOM/SOMALIA COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/CJTF HOA

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000842 
 
STATE FOR AF/E AND PRM/AFR 
ADDIS ABABA FOR REFCOORD 
NAIROBI FOR RDRAPCHO AND REFCOORD 
GENEVA FOR KPERKINS 
CJTF-HOA FOR POLAD 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF EAID DJ XA
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI - UNHCR RECEIVES SUPPORT FROM DONORS 
 
¶1. SUMMARY: Post awarded a USD 20,000 grant to American-led NGO LIFE 
International to assist refugees in Djibouti with skills training. 
The UNHCR mission in Djibouti received donations from donor 
countries and NGOs during the holy month of Ramadan, and also 
received non-food items originally intended for a refugee camp in 
Liberia that is now closed.  END SUMMARY. 
 
------------------------------ 
AMBASSADOR'S FUND GRANT SIGNED 
------------------------------ 
 
¶2.  On September 18, Post signed a grant agreement with 
Djibouti-based American-led NGO Local Initiatives for Education 
(LIFE) International, awarding LIFE a USD 20,000 grant to implement 
a sustainable skills training program at Ali Addeh, Djibouti's sole 
refugee camp.  The grant will finance the purchase of sewing 
machines and materials, tables, chairs, and other necessary teaching 
equipment, as well as the cost of training on the proper care and 
maintenance of the machines.  Additional skills such as bookkeeping 
and literacy--as well as health issues--will also be included in the 
course, to promote independence of participants.  LIFE is expected 
to train between 60-80 men and women during its five- to six-month 
program.  Special sessions will be held on the formation and 
functions of a cooperative/association.  LIFE will shape training to 
help ensure the sustainability of the project upon completion. 
 
¶3.  LIFE International has worked for 20 years in refugee camps in 
Kenya and has been working in Djibouti for the last 14 years.  It 
has participated in many successful initiatives and social 
development projects, in partnership with the Government of 
Djibouti. 
 
----------------------------------- 
THE SPIRIT OF GIVING DURING RAMADAN 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  During Ramadan, the Chaplain's office at Camp Lemonier, the U.S. 
military facility in Djibouti, provided 180 donated blankets to 
UNHCR for refugees.  UNHCR included the blankets in a special Eid 
distribution at the end of the holy month of Ramadan.  The Eid 
packages were made available during the monthly food distribution at 
the refugee camp.  In addition to the blankets, the Eid packages 
included personal hygiene items and extra protein (whole red lentils 
and canned tuna), supplied by UNHCR. 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
ADDITIONAL AID FROM DONOR COUNTRIES AND NGOs 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  During the month of September, Saudi Arabia donated 381,147 USD 
in emergency relief goods to UNHCR Djibouti. 
 
¶6.  Australia will fund the salary for a Camp Coordinator, who will 
work and live at the refugee camp for three to six months to 
coordinate and oversee the restructuring of the camp's 
infrastructure, including the food distribution center.  This 
position is expected to be filled by year's end. 
 
¶7. On September 18, the Japan International Cooperation Agency 
(JICA) visited the refugee camp, and expressed interest in 
implementing a handicraft activity project for refugees at the camp. 
 
 
--------------------------- 
NON-FOOD ITEMS - NEW SUPPLY 
--------------------------- 
 
¶8.  When the UNHCR refugee camp in Liberia closed early this year, 
UNHCR Representative Ann EnContre, took the initiative to request 
and receive new non-food items (NFIs), i.e. mats, blankets, plastic 
sheeting, tents, mosquito nets, lamps, jerry cans, kitchen sets, 
soap, etc., which remained at that camp's warehouse.  The NFIs 
arrived in Djibouti in September.  Since those items had already 
been purchased, EnContre paid only for the shipment of supplies. 
The NFIs will be distributed to new arrivals and to those who have 
not received a replacement in over 10 years.  This is the first time 
in 10 years that UNHCR has had the ability to replace old non-food 
items. 
 
¶9. COMMENTS: The UNHCR mission in Djibouti faces many hurdles and 
uphill battles; however, with continued support from donors and 
NGOs, it continues to progress in providing better assistance to 
refugees in Djibouti.  END COMMENT. 
 
WONG