The Need
MMR’s current vehicle is almost 20 years old and is developing significant problems. It is therefore essential for MMR projects and the team’s ability to serve the country that a new vehicle is acquired.
The Country
Djibouti is not a large country. It is divided into five districts: Djibouti with the capital, Ali Sabieh to the south, Dikhil to the west, Tadjourah to the north, and Obock to the northeast.
The country is around 23,200 Km². With an appropriately equipped vehicle it is possible to drive across the whole country in a day. A long day of driving, but it is doable.
Major roads in Djibouti
In the last decade, Djibouti has been building some new roads to connect most of the major cities in the country, as can be seen from the yellow line on the map. Using the new roads, it is possible to get from the capital to Ali Sabieh in 1½-2 hours. Reaching Tadjourah from the capital takes 3 hours or so. These roads go through deserts, up and down mountains, along the coast and through wadis (dried river beds) and are often full of trucks transporting goods between the ports and Ethiopia.
Other roads in Djibouti
Away from the major highways the roads are rougher with steep gradients in the mountains and frequent wadis to negotiate. They are narrow, sometimes single track, and often need to be negotiated in a low gear. But there is no other way to reach many villages.
Travelling features of Djibouti
Great care is needed as unexpected wild life may be met and camels, goats, and sheep are common road companions.
And of course, rain can change driving conditions very quickly. Dry, rocky river beds become rushing rivers within minutes and vehicles can be easily swept away. Roads may be obstructed by debris and even roads themselves may be destroyed.
MMR Projects
Currently MMR has projects that are spread across multiple districts in Djibouti. The original Oasis Library is in Tadjourah, a city on the northern coast of the gulf. The new Oasis Library, Balbala is in Djibouti district, outside the capital. Ecole Emmanuel recently moved to the district of Ali Sabieh which is located toward the southern border with Ethiopia. The garden project in Tadjourah state, is outside the city, in the mountains and along the coast.
The team’s vehicle
There is a limited type of vehicle that can cope with such conditions but furthermore such a vehicle needs to be able to withstand the extreme heat, salty air, and dusty conditions. And then meticulous maintenance is essential to protect against rust, overheating, and issues with the gears, shock absorbers and tyres.
MMR’s current vehicle is almost 20 years old having arrived in the country in December 2005. Thanks to the conscientious care of team members through the years the car has lasted as long as it has. However, significant problems are popping up. Although some problems can be fixed they are only temporary fixes so are probably not a good use of limited resources.
This year the vehicle has helped move Ecole Emmanuel to Ali Sabieh and move larger items into Oasis Balbala. It has helped move teachers to the new city with the school. It has driven into the countryside visiting gardens and into the capital city for administration tasks. On average it travels 6,000-7,500 miles (10,000 – 12,000 km) annually.
A new vehicle is urgently needed and as the team grows and projects develop, the need will become more obvious. In order to expand the garden project, a reliable, durable form of transport that can go regularly into the countryside is needed. In addition, there is a desire to have a mobile clinic that will visit villages to provide basic health care and education for those who are less able to travel into town.
Funding Need
The desire is to obtain a new Toyota Landcruiser 78 hardtop, a modern version of the current vehicle. This will cost about $US 40,000 (£32,000).
Each project that uses the vehicle will contribute to the cost of its running expenses and maintenance.
Your help will be appreciated
Please go to the Funding page to discover how Kerith Trust can enable you to safely transfer funds to MMR.
Thank you very much for your support of the MMR team and the work being done in Djibouti!
May God bless you.
Kerith Trust 