Why Djibouti?

I'm sure one of the first questions you're asking yourself when you read that I've been spending a lot of time in Djibouti is "Why Djibouti?" Ok, the first question you ask might not actually be that one; it's more likely that "Why Djibouti?" is your second question. Your first one is probably "Where is Djibouti?" So here's a map:
Now that the first question is answered, let's move on to the second one - "Why Djibouti?"

I'll give the U.S. government perspective first (since I am an employee of the U.S. Navy). If you take another glance at the map above, you'll see that Djibouti is situated at the opening of the Red Sea. Although it's not shown on the map, at the other end of the Red Sea is the Suez Canal, connecting the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and thus connecting Europe and Asia by a sea route that doesn't require traveling all the way around Africa. Djibouti is one of two countries in the physical position to control the entrance to the Red Sea, so it's in the interested of U.S. government to ensure that Djibouti is stable so that trade and transportation between Europe and Asia is not interrupted.

Now I'll give the humanitarian perspective. Although the GDP of Djibouti is quite high, the distribution of wealth within the country is severely skewed. Unemployment averages around 45% but is as high as 60% for disadvantaged groups. Literacy is only 57% and the gender gap in literacy is significant - 73% of men are literate while only 45% of women. Life expectancy is 49%. The infant mortality ratio of 114 infant deaths per 1,000 live births is one of the highest in the Middle East or sub-Saharan Africa. Maternal mortality is also high at 740 maternal deaths per 1,000 live births. The leading causes of death are diarrhea and respiratory illness. Malnutrition is widespread and significant - 26% of children are chronically malnourished; 13% suffer from acute malnutrition. More than 40% of households do not have access to sewage and sanitation services. Djibouti has the highest prevalence of tuberculosis in the world and, although HIV prevalence is not disturbingly high, Djibouti has numerous characteristics of a country at high risk for the spread of HIV. Amidst all of this, there are only two hospitals in the country, neither of which has the capacity for laboratory diagnosis of the specific etiologies of the leading causes of death in the country.

Combine the government perspective and the humanitarian perspective, and you'll have a better understanding why I'm working in Djibouti: (1) because the U.S. government is willing to invest a significant amount of money to ensure that Djibouti stays stable, and (2) because the people of Djibouti need assistance.