WFP warns of worsening hunger crisis in Haiti

Posted 3 hours ago by

Jamaica Observer

UNITED NATIONS (CMC) – The World Food Programme is warning that more than 5.8 million Haitians — about 52 per cent of the country's population — are facing crisis levels of food insecurity or worse.Of that number, over 1.8 million people are experiencing emergency conditions, meaning they are unable to meet even their most basic food needs and are exhausting their last remaining resources.The WFP says it is currently supporting some 2.7 million people through emergency food assistance, school meal programmes, social protection initiatives and support for small farmers.However, the agency is cautioning against complacency.WFP Haiti Country Director Wanja Kaaria says rising fuel prices and increasing food costs could quickly reverse recent gains, pushing already vulnerable families deeper into crisis.The UN agency noted that Haiti has faced a worsening food security situation for nearly a decade, driven by armed violence, political instability, economic hardship and repeated climate shocks, including hurricanes.It is now calling for urgent funding and stronger action to address both immediate needs and long-term solutions.WFP says it requires 332 million US dollars to sustain operations over the next 12 months, but warns that the wider humanitarian response plan for Haiti—valued at 880 million dollars—is less than 20 per cent funded.Meanwhile, violence continues to fuel displacement.Recent attacks in the South-East department forced more than 1,300 people from their homes, marking the first large-scale displacement in that region.Nationwide, more than 1.4 million people have been displaced, with hundreds of thousands living in overcrowded and unsanitary shelters, particularly in the capital, Port-au-Prince.WFP warns that addressing hunger is essential to restoring stability in Haiti, stressing that peace cannot be achieved while families struggle to feed themselves.