Haiti faces unprecedented hunger crisis

Port-au-Prince.- The World Food Program (WFP) revealed alarming statistics this Thursday, indicating that hunger in Haiti has reached unprecedented levels amidst the country’s current spiral of violence. The organization warned that if the situation persists, it could deplete its food reserves by the end of April.

With the main port and airport closed for approximately 30 days, the flow of supplies to the nation has been disrupted, leaving the WFP with only enough food to sustain 175,000 people for a month. This crisis has pushed food insecurity to levels not seen since the 2010 earthquake, with half of Haiti’s population, roughly 11 million people, facing acute food insecurity.

Jean-Martin Bauer, the WFP director in Haiti, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “We are doing everything possible to reach the most vulnerable people, but at the current rate, we will run out of food reserves by the end of April.” He stressed the immediate need to reopen the capital’s port to ensure the uninterrupted flow of supplies across the country.

Despite the challenges, the WFP has been working tirelessly to provide assistance. Since March 1, the organization has distributed food to over 500,000 people nationwide, served hot meals to 290,000 children in schools, and prioritized purchasing locally produced food. However, food prices have soared, making affordable meals inaccessible to millions of families.

Market analysis by the WFP revealed alarming price hikes, with the cost of corn and rice rising by 42% and 35%, respectively, from March 2023 to March 2024.

Violence exacerbates the situation, further threatening food security. More than two-thirds of households have experienced significant income declines, and food prices have risen in seven out of ten departments compared to January.

Additionally, the first IPC analysis of acute malnutrition in Haiti projected that nearly 277,000 children under the age of 2 will face or are expected to face acute malnutrition by November 2024, including 125,000 children severely malnourished.

Source: EFE