Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment of Post-Cyclone Sagar (RDNA)

Between Saturday 19 and Monday 20 May 2018, Djibouti was affected by severe weather caused by the passage of tropical cyclone Sagar, including wind speeds of 90km/hour, heavy rainfall of up to 110mm recorded in the within a few hours,1 and flash floods of up to 1m in some low-lying parts of the region. The heavy rains due caused flash floods especially in the city of Djibouti and its suburb of Balbala. It is estimated that between 20,000 and 30,000 people were affected by this event. The cyclone, unique of its kind in the region, caused major damage to housing and road infrastructure. The rains flooded Djibouti City's main thoroughfares, public buildings, and destroyed many agricultural areas, catching residents off guard and killing at least two people.

To quickly respond to Cyclone Sagar in Djibouti, the government undertook a rapid assessment of the physical damage and economic loss in the sectors most affected by the cyclone and the impact on our citizens, with the sole aim of identifying the needs for reconstruction and assistance to our affected population but also to revive social and economic services. Damage due to cyclone Sagar for our economy and were evaluated at 5.5 billion Djiboutian francs by this preliminary study.

The rapid damage and needs assessment (RDNA) in Djibouti is an assessment with a sectoral and geographical focus on the most affected sectors and regions, covering damage, losses and needs by sector.