The World Bank has awarded a contract to UK consultancy firm Mott MacDonald to assess the impacts of climate change on the coastal communities of the Southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden in Djibouti, Sudan and Yemen.

The report will focus on key concerns including sea level changes, land loss, changes in coastal storms, and flooding and beach erosion.

The results will provide the basis for improved investments to the coastal regions and affect future projects in the areas.

The coastal areas around the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden are important as a large percentage of the Djiboutian, Sudanese and Yemeni population live there and many depend on coastal and marine resources for their livelihood. These areas also include several coral formations.

Phase 1 of the study is due for completion at the beginning of 2012.