Urgent Appeal: UN Food Agency Calls for $46 Million to Combat Growing Hunger Crisis in Haiti

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is calling for $46 million to help two million people in Haiti facing severe hunger. This situation is critical, with around 8,500 individuals living at the most extreme level of food insecurity.

Lola Castro, the WFP’s regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean, recently visited Haiti. She reported that growing gang violence and mass displacement are worsening conditions there. Currently, about 5.7 million Haitians—almost half the population—need urgent food aid.

Castro emphasized the dire state of affairs. “Haiti is one of only five countries globally experiencing Phase 5 hunger, where extreme food scarcity puts lives at risk,” she noted.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) describes Phase 5 as a situation where over 20% of households face severe food shortages, leading to starvation or acute malnutrition.

Gang violence has taken control of around 85% of Port-au-Prince, making it hard for people to access food and essential services. Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, the country has been without stable leadership. Aid workers warn that, without international assistance, Haiti could descend into chaos.

Although a multinational security mission led by Kenya is in place, it is only partially staffed. Only 40% of the target deployment of 2,500 personnel is currently on the ground. This lack of support complicates the humanitarian efforts in the country.

The WFP has already helped 1.3 million people this year using leftover funds from 2024. However, Castro warns that supplies will soon run out. “As we enter hurricane season, we don’t have enough food. A storm could push many more people into a hunger crisis,” she said.

The organization’s school meals program, feeding 500,000 children daily, also faces threats of cuts due to funding shortages.

The need for that $46 million is urgent. It would help sustain food efforts for the most vulnerable, support school meals, and assist displaced people.

In a time when natural disasters can shift the balance of survival, humanitarian aid is more crucial than ever. Without immediate resources, the situation in Haiti could worsen rapidly.

For more information on food insecurity and humanitarian needs, you can check resources from the Food and Agriculture Organization and WFP.

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