Last Monday at the People's Palace, the President of the Republic, Mr. Ismail Omar Guelleh, sponsored the launching ceremony of the activities of the National Solidarity Week, for the year 2024, in the presence of the First Lady of Djibouti, the President of the National Union of Djibouti Women, Mrs. Khadra Mahmoud Haid, the Acting Prime Minister, and many ministers and officials. As well as the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Djibouti, Mr. Ruwaid Abu Amsha.
The President of the Republic said, “Poverty is not a problem limited to a specific region or country. It is a global challenge that affects developing and developed countries alike.” Today, more than one billion people live on less than $1 a day.
He added, “Facing the multidimensional issue of poverty, we had to devise solutions, cooperate, and intensify our efforts to eliminate it or at least alleviate its severity.”
We have undertaken various complementary initiatives, such as developing microfinance strategies and tools, in particular through the establishment of popular savings and credit funds and the establishment of institutions in charge of poverty reduction, such as the Djiboutian Social Development Agency and the State Secretariat in charge of National Solidarity.
On the ground, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Solidarity has implemented various, innovative, and high-impact social programs and projects, such as social development programs, social safety networks, empowerment, and financial inclusion, whether in the capital or in the interior regions.
For her part, the Minister of Social Affairs and Solidarity delivered a speech in which she said: “At the beginning, I am pleased to extend my sincere thanks and great appreciation to the pioneer of the national renaissance, His Excellency, the President of the Republic, Mr. Ismail Omar Guelleh, for his kindness in sponsoring this ceremony, despite his many preoccupations. This reflects the great interest he pays to social support programs and efforts to develop the standard of living for simple groups in our society. I also cannot fail to thank you all for your presence and honoring us in this meeting.

Mrs. Aloufa Abdo added: “This valuable occasion (National Solidarity Week) comes - as you all know - at a time when the Palestinian people, especially in Gaza, are living one of the darkest chapters in their history, as a result of the siege and the brutal Israeli aggression, which does not hesitate to commit massacres.” Heinous crimes against innocent people, and it is an unmissable opportunity to once again confirm our full solidarity with this brotherly people.
In turn, the Palestinian Ambassador to Djibouti, Dr. Ruwaid Abu Amsha, expressed his happiness at participating in the launching ceremony of the Djibouti Solidarity Week activities.