DEATH OF U.S. CITIZENS IN DJIBOUTI

General information on the death of U.S. Citizens abroad can be found by going to the Department of State website at: http://www.travel.state.gov/law/family_issues/death/death_600.html

The following is information on funeral directors, morticians and related services available in Djibouti.

Services to assist with preparation of the dead are limited in Djibouti.  Funeral homes and directors are non-existent.  There are only two mortuaries and one licensed mortician available in Djibouti.  The mortician also serves as the coroner.  The two mortuaries available are at Bouffard (the French military hospital) and at Peltier (a state-run public hospital), both located in the capital city of Djibouti.

The Government of Djibouti manages the mortuary services at Peltier Hospital through the Mayor’s office in Djibouti City, but the mortician/coroner works directly with the National Police.  When required, Bouffard Hospital allows the mortician/coroner to prepare the body for burial or transport.

PROFILE OF SERVICES AVAILABLE IN DJIBOUTI REGARDING PREPARATION AND SHIPMENT OF REMAINS

a. Disposition of Remains
The quality of service provided in Djibouti is limited and costly.  Only one mortician/coroner is licensed in Djibouti.  This person works with the National Police to conduct all investigations and to properly prepare the body for transit and burial. 

The only two refrigerated facilities available in Djibouti are located at Bouffard ( the French military hospital), and at Peltier (the state-run public hospital).  The mortuary at Peltier charges 5,000 Djiboutian francs (DJF) (approximately US$29.00 USD) per day for the storage of remains, whereas Bouffard is free.  [NOTE.  As of April 2009, the exchange rate was fixed at 177 Djiboutian francs = US$1.  END NOTE.]  Preparation for shipment, including the container, documentation, casket and coffin are estimated to cost DJF 650,000 (approximately US$3,672).  The refrigerated facilities in Djibouti will not keep the body cold enough to travel to the U.S.  An open casket burial is not advisable due to the condition in which the body will arrive, considering the length of travel time.  

Air France is the only carrier in Djibouti that transits remains out of Djibouti.  If the casket is purchased from a company in France recommended by the coroner, this company will make all arrangements for transferring the remains from Paris to airlines bound for U.S. destinations.  The cost of shipping the remains will vary, based on the destination.

Embalming is not available in Djibouti.

The estimated flight time from Djibouti to Washington D.C. is 16 hours, including the transit time.

b. Specific facts relating to embalming, cremation, caskets, exportation, documentation requirements, preparation, shipment, and exhumation

When remains are to be transported out of Djibouti, they are placed in a zinc casket, with the bottom covered with at least 5 centimeters of absorbing matter (peat, sawdust, pulverized charcoal, etc.), and which is hermetically sealed by soldering.  Before shipment is made, the zinc casket is placed in a wooden coffin, which in turn is placed in a wooden shipping case. 

Local law does not prohibit cremation.  The Indian community performs cremations at the local non-Muslim cemetery.  Cremations can be arranged by contacting the honorary Indian consul, Mr. Nalin S. Kothari, at +253 35 02 19, who would assist on a voluntary basis.  As refrigerated facilities in Djibouti will not keep remains cold enough to travel to the U.S., given the travel time required, cremation is recommended.  Cremation results in fine ash, the same as in the U.S.  The ashes would be placed in a wooden box, which costs between 20,000–25,000 DJF (approximately US$113.00–142.00).  The mortician/coroner’s services cost 65,000 DJF (approximately US$367.00), and transportation of the body from death site to mortuary costs 15,000 DJF (approximately USD 85.00).

Another possible shipping option for ashes is through the U.S. military’s Fleet Post Office (FPO) at Camp Lemonier, the only U.S. military base in Africa.  Ashes may be sent via certified mail in a carefully packaged box.  The cost of shipping depends on the weight of the package (NOTE:  Use of FPO facilities, and access to Camp Lemonier, is subject to restrictions).

Local requirements for the export of human remains are based on the 1937 Berlin Convention, along with additional local regulations, which require a written request made by the next-of-kin or a representative from the U.S. Embassy to obtain an exit permit for the remains (See note at the bottom of this page). In addition, Djiboutian authorities require the following information:

1. A letter from the party responsible for paying all fees, attesting financial responsibility. 

2. Burial permit delivered by the destination municipality (country) or by the U.S Consular representative [available from the U.S. Embassy’s Consular section].

3. A death certificate from a physician stating the cause, place, date, and time of death.

4. A non-infectiousness certificate (from the physician who treated the deceased).

5. A death certificate delivered by the Ministry of Interior to the Civil Records office.

6. Documentation certifying that the coffin has been inspected by Djiboutian hygiene services officials at the Ministry of Health.

7. Passport or other official identification.

8. Embassy authorization for burial in the United States [issued by the U.S. Embassy’s Consular section].

Djiboutian authorities also require that:

9. All U.S. documents must be translated into French and the international language spoken at transit points and the final destination.

10. The casket containing the body should be hermetically sealed (see b. above).

The Government of Djibouti allows the exhumation of a body, which typically costs 65,000 DJF (approximately US$367.00).  The Government of Djibouti is currently revising the existing law regarding exhumation and will make this law available to the public once signed by the President.

c. Unique Circumstances
A body with a known infectious disease will not be permitted to exit the country.  The coroner will have the body buried in Djibouti.

d.  Shipping 
Several in-country shipping options are available (i.e. trains, truck, air, boat, etc.), but not all are recommended, nor are they all reliable or easy to arrange.

Only one airline (Air France) ships bodies out of Djibouti.  Air France departs from Djibouti once a week, on Saturday nights.  This flight connects to Charles de Gaulle (CDG) international airport in Paris.  All major U.S. airlines have frequent daily flights from CDG.  The cost of shipping remains will vary, based on the destination.  The estimated cost for port of entry in the United States is $6,000.

e. Local authorities responsible for licensing funeral directors and morticians
The Mayor’s office is responsible for licensing funeral directors and morticians.

f. Local authorities responsible for making findings regarding the cause of death and for issuing death local certificates
The Mayor’s office is responsible for making findings regarding the cause of death and for issuing local death certificates; however, in practice, the mortician/coroner who works directly with the National Police conducts all investigations of deaths and issues death certificates.

Note - The laws cited are from the national law of Djibouti (the 1937 Berlin Convention pertaining to international transport of human remains, signed by France on 10 February 1937, to which Djibouti automatically became a signatory at its independence in 1977, governs regulations on export of human remains out of Djibouti).  A bill regarding disposition of remains in Djibouti is currently being prepared for submission to the National Legislature.