smartraveller.gov.au - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
It's a must see destination.
It's a must see destination.
Djibouti
| Djibouti overall | This Advice is current for Friday, 12 March 2010. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
| Border with Eritrea | ||||
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
This advice has been reviewed and reissued. It contains new information under Safety and Security: Crime (Dorale and Khor Ambado beaches), Local Travel (railway to Ethiopia), Natural Disasters, Severe Weather and Climate (drought), Local Laws (hunting, public drunkenness) and Where to Get Help (High Commission contact numbers). The overall level of the advice has not changed.
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Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers.
We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Djibouti because of the threat of terrorist attack and the uncertain security environment. Pay close attention to your personal security at all times and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.
In planning your activities, consider the kind of places known to be terrorist targets and the level of security provided. Possible targets include commercial and public areas known to be frequented by foreigners such as hotels, clubs, restaurants, bars, schools, markets and shopping areas, places of worship, embassies, outdoor recreation events, tourist areas and historic sites. Airports, aircraft and military interests are also possible targets.
The political situation in Djibouti remains stable. However, civil unrest and/or armed conflict in neighbouring countries (Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea) may negatively affect the security situation.
Fighting in Somalia since 2006 has involved a number of countries in the Horn and East of Africa and has contributed to a decline in regional stability. Although there is no indication that Djibouti is involved in the conflict, it could be affected by this instability.
Demonstrations and protests occur frequently. International events and political developments may prompt demonstrations. You should avoid all protests, demonstrations and large gatherings as they can turn violent.
Border with Eritrea: We strongly advise you not to travel to the border with Eritrea. There were military clashes between Djibouti and Eritrea in June 2008 and further conflict is possible. You should monitor local information sources for up-to-date reports.
Australians are advised to avoid travelling to remote areas of the country, including the borders with Ethiopia and Somalia where the presence of security forces is low.
Incidents of petty crime and pickpocketing continue to rise in Djibouti.
There have been reports of banditry outside the capital.
Avoid visiting Dorale and Khor Ambado beaches late in the afternoon due to their isolation.
Avoid walking alone after dark.
Landmines are prevalent in the northern districts of Tadjoura and Obock and the southern district of Ali Sabieh.
Roads in Djibouti are often narrow, poorly lit and badly maintained. Roaming livestock are an additional hazard. The standard of driving and vehicle maintenance is generally poor. Police set up wire coils as roadblocks on some of the major roads, and these may be difficult to see at night. We recommend that you do not travel at night and that overland travel be undertaken in a convoy. Intercity travel is limited to bus and ferry services between the capital city and the towns of Tadjoura and Obock. For further advice, see our bulletin on Overseas Road Safety.
In the event of an accident, the driver should wait until the police arrive on the scene.
In the past, sabotage by terrorists has caused the derailment of trains travelling between Ethiopia and Djibouti. You should check ahead whether these train services are operational.
The safety standards you might expect of transport and tour operators, including adventure activities, are not always met. Sufficient safety equipment may not be provided and recommended maintenance standards and safety precautions may not be observed.
There is a high risk of piracy in the coastal areas of Djibouti. There have been attacks by pirates against all forms of shipping in and around Djibouti's waters and the Gulf of Aden. Pirates have been using motherships to attack shipping further than 600 nautical miles (1110km) from the coast of Somalia. All forms of shipping are attractive targets for Somali pirates, including commercial vessels, pleasure craft (yachts etc) and luxury cruise liners. We strongly advise Australians to maintain a high level of vigilance and to exercise extreme caution when anywhere near these waters.
The International Maritime Bureau noted that 102 ships were attacked and 40 ships hijacked near Somalia and Yemen in 2008. The frequency of attacks increased during 2009. See our advice to Australians travelling by sea for further information. The International Maritime Bureau issues weekly piracy reports on its website.
Passengers on international flights to and from Australia are only allowed to carry a small amount of liquids (including aerosols and gels) in their carry-on baggage. You can find out more information at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government website. Similar restrictions apply to flights in an increasing number of countries. Contact your airline for further information.
If you have concerns about the safety standards of a particular airline or aircraft, we recommend you research the airline or aircraft through organisations such as Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has published fact sheets on security for air travellers. When staff at Australia's overseas missions are advised not to use particular airlines due to safety concerns, this will be included in the travel advisory.
The European Union (EU) has published a list of airlines that are subject to operating bans or restrictions within the EU. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through its foreign assessment program focuses on a country's ability, not the individual airline, to adhere to international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance established by ICAO.
The climate is very hot and dry from May to October. Djibouti is experiencing severe drought after four years of below average rainfall. Local services and the availability of water and basic food may be affected and travelling overland can be difficult. An increase in disease is expected.
Djibouti is in an active volcanic and earthquake zone.
All oceanic regions of the world can experience tsunamis, but in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, there is a more frequent occurrence of large, destructive tsunamis because of the many large earthquakes along major tectonic plate boundaries and ocean trenches. See the Tsunami Awareness brochure.
Information on natural disasters can be obtained from the Humanitarian Early Warning Service. If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities and monitor the media for the latest information.
Australians are advised to respect wildlife laws and to maintain a safe and legal distance when observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice.
Before you go, organise a variety of ways to access your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards. Australian currency and travellers' cheques are not accepted in many countries. Consult with your bank to find out which is the most appropriate currency to carry and whether your ATM card will work overseas.
Djibouti's economy is cash-based. Travellers' cheques can be exchanged at major banks, but credit cards are not widely accepted. You should assume ATMs will not be available.
Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.
While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.
As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.
You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.
For general information and tips on travelling with children see our Travelling Parents brochure.
If you are planning on placing your children in schools or childcare facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or childcare facilities in Australia.
Ideas on how to select childcare providers are available from the smartraveller Children's Issues page, Child Wise and the National Childcare Accreditation Council.
When you are in Djibouti, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter.
Penalties for possession, use or trafficking in illegal drugs in Djibouti are severe, and include long jail sentences and heavy fines. The narcotic khat is legal in Djibouti, but is illegal in many other countries.
Homosexuality is illegal.
Hunting is forbidden by law.
Public displays of drunkenness could result in a two year prison term.
Photography of infrastructure, such as public buildings, ports, airports, bridges and military facilities, is prohibited. It is also illegal to photograph military personnel. Your equipment will be confiscated and you may be arrested. You should use particular care when taking photos near these prohibited places. If in doubt, seek advice from authorities.
Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.
Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia.
There are conservative standards of dress and behaviour in Djibouti and you should take care not to offend. If in doubt, seek local advice.
Our Travel Information for Dual Nationals brochure provides further information.
Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Djibouti for the most up-to-date information.
A valid Yellow Fever Certificate is required for entry into Djibouti if you have arrived from a country where yellow fever is endemic.
Make sure your passport has at least six months' validity from your planned date of return to Australia. You should carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.
Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 has spread throughout the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides useful information for individuals and travellers on its website. For further information and advice to Australians, including on possible quarantine measures overseas, see our travel bulletin on Pandemic (H1N1) 2009.
We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. The Australian Government will not pay for a traveller's medical expenses overseas or medical evacuation costs.
Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventive measures, immunisations (including booster doses of childhood vaccinations) and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our Travelling Well brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy while overseas.
The standard of health facilities in the capital is limited and very basic to non-existent in outlying regions. Medicines are often unavailable and can be extremely expensive. In the event of a serious illness or accident, medical evacuation (at considerable expense) to a destination with appropriate facilities would be necessary.
Malaria occurs widely and throughout the year in Djibouti. Other insect-borne diseases (including dengue fever and filariasis) are also a risk to travellers. We encourage you to take prophylaxis against malaria and take measures to avoid insect bites including using insect repellent at all times.
Water-borne, food-borne and other infectious diseases (including HIV/AIDS, cholera, hepatitis, schistosomiasis, meningococcal disease and tuberculosis) are prevalent with more serious outbreaks occurring from time to time. We encourage you to consider having vaccinations before travelling. We advise you to boil all drinking water or drink bottled water, avoid ice cubes and raw and undercooked food. Seek medical advice if you have a fever or are suffering from diarrhoea.
Avian Influenza: The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed a human case of avian influenza in Djibouti. The Department of Health and Ageing advises Australians who reside in Djibouti for an extended period to consider, as a precautionary measure, having access to influenza antiviral medicine for treatment. Long-term residents are at a greater risk of exposure to avian influenza over time. You should seek medical advice before taking antiviral medicines. Australians intending to travel to Djibouti for shorter periods are at much lower risk of infection but should discuss the risk of avian influenza with their doctor as part of their routine pre-travel health checks.
If the avian influenza virus mutates to a form where efficient human-to-human transmission occurs, it may spread quickly and local authorities could move quickly to impose restrictions on travel. Australian travellers and long-term residents in Djibouti should be prepared to take personal responsibility for their own safety and well-being, including deciding when to leave an affected area and ensuring they have appropriate contingency plans in place. Australians in Djibouti should monitor the travel advice and bulletin for updated information and advice, and ensure that their travel documents, including passports and visas for any non-Australian family members, are up to date in case they need to depart at short notice.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed cases of avian influenza in birds in a number of countries throughout the world, including Djibouti. For a list of these countries, visit the OIE website. For information on our advice to Australians on how to reduce the risk of infection and on Australian Government precautions see our travel bulletin on avian influenza.
Australia does not have an Embassy or Consulate in Djibouti. You can obtain consular assistance from the nearest Australian High Commission which is in Kenya:
Australian High Commission
Riverside Drive (400 metres off Chiromo Road)
Nairobi, KENYA
Telephone: (+254 20) 427 7100
Facsimile: (+254 20) 427 7139
Website: http://www.kenya.embassy.gov.au/
If you are travelling to Djibouti, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we encourage you to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register online or in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency - whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.
In a consular emergency if you are unable to contact the High Commission in Kenya, you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.
In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.
While every care has been taken in preparing this travel information for travellers, neither the Australian Government nor its agents or employees including any member of Australia's consular staff abroad, can accept liability for injury, loss or damage arising in respect of any statement contained therein.
