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Nearly half of the population in Haiti doesn’t have enough to eat, including for the first time ever 19 200 people in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5). With 76 percent of people in high acute food insecurity living in rural areas, restoring livelihoods is fundamental to the humanitarian response. A USD 125 market gardening seed package can produce 20 times its value in vegetables in just 10-12 weeks, enabling a family to quickly access food and generate income by selling part of the production obtained.
Urgency of humanitarian agricultural assistance
Haiti has one of the highest levels of food insecurity in the world, with nearly half of the population in high acute food insecurity, including for the first time some 19 200 people in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5). Over the past three years, the percentage of people in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) has continuously increased (from 7 percent in 2019 to 18 percent in 2022), while the percentage of people in Minimal (IPC Phase 1) fell from 41 to 24 percent, indicating a gradual worsening of the situation. Even the number of areas classified in Emergency has increased in just one year, from five in September 2021 to 15 in September 2022. The level of hunger is expected to worsen in Haiti as the war in Ukraine continues to impact global food supply and rising gang violence restricts the movement of goods into the country.
Haiti is facing unprecedented levels of violence perpetrated by armed groups.
Clashes between gangs for territorial control in the Port-au-Prince area are displacing thousands of people and many are trapped in the conflict without access to medical care. Compounding the situation are rising inflation, high food and fuel costs and political instability. Previous marginal gains in poverty reduction have been undone by successive crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
Haiti remains one of the most vulnerable countries to natural disasters – mainly hurricanes, floods and earthquakes. The effects of climate change are expected to increase their frequency and, while some progress has been made, the country still lacks adequate preparedness and resilience building mechanisms. In October 2022, heavy rains in the southern part of the country triggered landslides that caused extensive material damage and loss of life.
Furthermore, functioning and access to essential services, health and education have been disrupted across the country, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable populations. After three years without a single case of cholera, the Ministry of Public Health and Population confirmed the first two new cases in October 2022, and there are currently more than 32 140 suspected cases.