Relief

June Update for COVID-19 Response in Djibouti

The last two months have been difficult for the entire world. Like many of you, we are learning how to adjust and work during COVID-19.

As of today, Djibouti, with a population of one million people, has felt the impact of the Coronavirus even more. The official count released by the government is now over 4,500 with 43 deaths. 

Thankfully, L.I.F.E. received a shipment of food relief such as, rice, lentils, and MannaPacks right before the lockdown. We have been distributing these items with help from friends and other partner organizations, focusing on the most vulnerable people.

We have also been able to sew masks for healthcare workers, people in our neighborhoods, and more. Several of our sewing students have also been sewing masks for those who need them.

In our athletic programs, we serve 84 boys and girls, and 30 women in our sewing classes. This means we personally reach over 700 individuals through the family units. This doesn't count the hundreds of others, we have been able to help through friends and partners. 

Because of your donations, we can encourage these families and serve them faithfully. 

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GirlsRun2 Participants Received Items for Flood Relief in Djibouti

We have been distributing tarps and mosquito nets and are now assessing next steps for our Phase II of flood relief efforts. 

Within LIFE Djibouti we have direct contact with over 100 families who participate in our programs (Project House, GirlsRun2, and our Boy's Soccer Team). 

We started by first addressing the needs of our students and athletes then equipping them to go out and help their families, neighbors, and friends. 

They were able to provide tarps, mosquito nets, food, blankets, clothes, tin for roofs, and school supplies. We have also been sharing on how to protect themselves from the diseases that have started to spread as a result of the increase rains.

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Distribution of Supplies to IDP Camps in Puntland

In consultation with the Ministries of Education, Health and Youth and Sports, most the current consignment is planned be dispatched to a location that has been suffering from drought. This area is often neglected because of its remoteness as well as its disputed land. This has caused brief and politically intense conflicts, which have been both deadly and devastating.  

“The reoccurrence of clan and political conflicts, periphery, prolonged droughts and population growth, as result of natural growth with limited resources has led poor condition to the people. According to the UN and INGOs reports, most of the people are living in significantly difficult circumstance. School enrolment rate is low comparing other towns and due to the absence of adequate teaching materials, facilities and skilled teachers. Although the town has several private clinics, the general hospital, which is the only public hospital in that area, is not equipped as needed.” – Staff who works and lives in country

In response to those circumstances, the aid was intended to benefit an estimated 700 students of different age groups two orphanage centers and schools, and for each student to receive a CarePack.

Also, each student received rice packs that would last each of them two months. We also gave one orphanage center 3 boxes of soccer balls, and the the other 5 boxes were turned over to the Ministry of Labour, Youth and Sports (MoLYS) and distributed throughout the region.

Other donations included 20 boxes of blankets that were donated to the same students as well as people in the neighborhood. Other items of the supplies included wheelchairs, mobility carts and mixed mobility supplies which benefited over 180 disabled people in two towns.

Nearly 273 of the drought-affected people in these towns and their families benefited from the used clothing and blankets. The other donations included nearly 5000 items of disposable medical supplies that went to health facilities in the same districts.

Planning the distribution of supplies with local authorities

Prior to the arrival of the supplies, the local NGO consulted with the Ministries of Education and Health and Youth and Sports in planning the distribution of the donated items. They agreed to undertake a joint distribution of items. The Ministries also advised to target the new supplies to the orphanage center and 6 schools, 2 community health centers in one town, and the general hospital and other 4 health clinics in the surrounding settlements. After the identification of the beneficiaries and distribution plan was agreed, the transport and the delivery of the supplies to the targeted schools/centers was conducted.

Distribution and supply delivery to the targeted centers

The supplies were disturbed at an orphanage center and the community health centers by a team composed of the local community, local authority, and field staff as per the agreed distribution plan. A launching event was held at the main orphanage center where representatives from the regional education ministries, religious scholars, and our NGO as well as other guests attended. The Mayor of the town officially launched the distribution handing out supplies to the orphanage. After 5 days of work, the team went to another town and distributed supplies to those families affected by drought living in IDP camps. 


Beneficiaries were also able to express their appreciation towards the relief distribution stating that this was a much needed but unexpected humanitarian act. Particularly, the orphaned children who appreciated the distributed supplies. Also, the administration and teachers of the schools and health centers were very thankful. They said the bringing the supplies to the orphan center was very thoughtful and the children were indeed worthy and deserved to get these highly nutritious supplies.

 



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Fartuun is a 47 year old single mother who has been greatly affected by the drought. She lost all of her animals in the drought and has migrated to the nearest city in hopes of finding a better place to live. She received used clothes, rice bags, and blankets.

“We were caught by surprise at just how quickly this drought has returned. The time for people to recover has been halved and has been continuing to decrease every single season,” she said. “Ultimately, it’s a climate crisis, but we are very grateful for this quick response/aid especially blankets, rice, and used clothes since I will be able to dress decently.”

The rice and beans she received will ensure that the herself and the kids can fight malnutrition.

 


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Hassan is a 45-year-old man who is crippled and has been using his hands while dragging his body along the ground in order to move. He was given a Pet Cart and was overjoyed that he no longer had to crawl on the dirty, dusty roads. “There is no other day I’m happier than today and I’m grateful for the mobility cart you provided me in order to move.”

 

 

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Eight year old Howa is an orphan and is a student at the orphanage school. She lives with her aunt is very old, but supports her in her life and encourages her to get an education. She received soccer balls and CarePacks and was so happy along with her other classmates to receive new items for school. “Me and my classmates are very grateful and morally happy.” She said.

 

LIFE and Italian Military Distribute Aid

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In collaboration with the Italian Military, LIFE did a distribution to a remote village in Djibouti. We gave out soccer balls, rice and bean packets, and school supply kits. This village is located 15-20 km from the nearest medical facility or school. There is not a lot to do there so handing out soccer balls provides the children (and adults) with something fun to do. People love soccer in Djibouti and by distributing the balls it gives them more than just food and clothing; we are trying to show that we care about all aspects of their life.

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Soccer Teams in Kenya Receive Jerseys

Recently LIFE donated uniforms to some soccer teams in Garissa, Kenya. The team named Mwamba FC means Rock in Swahili. Volunteers coach the team and the players range from young students to graduates, most who are from local tribes in the surrounding communities. The coaches use a whole life coaching method, meaning they don’t just teach their players how to play soccer, but they also teach them valuable life skills. They have received numerous testimonies of youth who have transformed their lives because of this method. Many of the players have stopped taking drugs like khat or miraa and have learned the importance of keeping their bodies healthy. 

Djiboutian Basketball Teams Receive Shoes

“Donations are the best gift, thank you,” said Mo, the coach of one the girl’s basketball team in Djibouti. The girls that play together have a very tight bond. “It brings people together,” said Mo.

Sports have taught them disciplines that they may not be learning elsewhere. There are girls from all neighborhoods playing together. One of the girls, Farah, age 28, has been playing basketball since age 12. She says they often how to go out and encourage the girls to come to practice despite how others may perceive them.

For the distribution, the federation contacted all the coach’s and basketball teams. One girl’s team plus six other men’s teams were present. Each team received a pair of shoes for each player and one basketball for the team to use. It was held at the basketball gym in town, an open-wall, covered concrete gym with stadium seating. They had decided to do the distribution that day and called all of the players and coaches. The coaches and Farah could not believe how many people had showed up on such short notice. The players were so excited to receive the new shoes, especially since they could be used for basketball.

“Some people don’t have any shoes,” said Mo. “While we may not make very much money being a coach, seeing the girls smiling and having fun is enough money for me.”

 

 

Shoe Distribution in Djibouti

Recently our team distributed flip flops to some of the villages in rural Djibouti. Here are their stories:

 

We identified vulnerable families who would benefit the most from the flip-flops. There were 250 families who were identified, and all of them were homeless women with children. One lady Fatouma Sheem said that her family were really happy to get the flip-flops. For a long time they have walked barefoot and this gift comes at a crucial time. Their homes were recently destroyed and they have lost everything. "We thank the providers and may God bless them for donating in a difficult moment."

Blanket and Rice Distribution in Djibouti

We recently received a shipment of blankets and rice and bean packets. We distributed these among a rural area in Djibouti. 

"Thank you for your help, we are so happy to get this help. We welcome any kind of help from you. Really we are desperate people because we live in a border area where no one helps us." 


The girl (pictured right) lost her father in Yemen. Her mother works hard to sell material on the street of the village. Living as refugees she has not had the opportunity to go to school. She has to help her mother sell material so they can have money to live.

When we asked her what she would like to get in life, she responded, "I would like to go school to change the life of my family in the future." 

As an organization we are working hard to create opportunities for children like this girl. By providing basic necessities like food and blankets we can help take the burden off of the children and give them an opportunity to get in school. 


"Thank you for your help, I was wondering what I was going to do for my children to protect them from the cold. But now I have two blankets and 6 boxes of rice. This is the first time in my life to get help from somewhere and I was so surprised when I was given these blankets and rice!

I hope this is not the last time to get help, and I hope this will open doors for help of abandoned people like us. I would like my children to get better future than me. Thank you so much. You create us hope of life and we keep you eye on always."


"It is a big challenge to be born homeless and to grow up having children in the same condition—no job and no income, but begging in the streets with our children is our daily life! We are very thankful to those who sent us the rice. May God bless them."


"My name is Halimo and I am a mother of 6. I am very happy today, and I have no words to express it. Thank you so much for giving us the blanket to protect us from the cold."


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"My name is Zahra and I am a grandmother of two. Their family separated when the youngest was 6 months old. Today he is two and half. Only Allah knows our situation and this blanket which you gave us is one of our main needs. Thank you so much for remembering us."

 


"I want to bring this blanket and rice to my mother. My mother is sick today and at home. I love this rice; I want to eat it and grow up quickly to help my family in the future. I want to be a doctor. If I were a doctor today I would help cure my mother."

 

 


"My name is Mona and I am 11 years old, and this is my brother Kalid. I help my mother at home, cooking food, washing clothes, and doing dishes. I do not attend school, but I do attend the local school where I learn religion. When I finish there I want to learn other languages like English or Arabic. In the future I want to help my family."

 


"I am a mother of two children and am happy to have this blanket to keep my children from the cold. This is my youngest daughter and she has been sick for two weeks. There is not a good hospital here, and we do not have enough money to get to the capital. We hope she will recover one day with the traditional medicine available in our village."


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"We are so happy today! We got help from you and this is not what we expected. We didn't know if there were merciful people who knew our situation. You give us great happiness. Today we got rice and blankets and it is the perfect time for blankets because of the cold."

 

 


"I am a mother of four children and am very happy to get this blanket and rice to my children." Thank you for your unforgettable help and we hope to have more from you in the future. You are so dear to us for bringing the blankets and rice into our village. I think tonight my children will not be cold when I put this blanket them. Thank you again. I very appreciate with your gift."


"We are very happy to get this wonderful gift from people who love to support weak people like us. Today is unforgettable day for us because we now have blankets for our children.. We would like to thank those merciful people who brought us blankets and rice into our village."