The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced today it has been forced to cut the number of people receiving emergency food assistance in Haiti by 25 percent in July, compared to the previous month, due to dwindling funding levels. This means 100,000 of the most vulnerable Haitians are forced to get by without any support by the UN agency this month amid a deteriorating humanitarian situation.
At the current level of funding for 2023, WFP says, it lacks the resources to provide food assistance to a total of 750,000 people who are in urgent need. This is at a time when the country is facing an unprecedented level of humanitarian needs, with nearly half of the population – 4.9 million people – unable to find enough to eat.
Six months into the year, WFP’s response plan in Haiti is only 16 percent funded, and the organization urgently requires US$121 million through the end of 2023 to continue providing vital humanitarian assistance in the country. The UN agency is aiming to reach 2.3 million people in Haiti in 2023, but a funding crunch threatens the response.
“It’s tragic being unable to reach some of the most vulnerable Haitians this month. These cuts could not come at a worse time, as Haitians face a multi-layered humanitarian crisis, their lives and livelihoods upended by violence, insecurity, economic turmoil and climate shocks”, said Jean-Martin Bauer, WFP Country Director for Haiti.
“Unless we receive immediate funding, further devastating cuts cannot be ruled out.”
The humanitarian situation in the country is increasingly grim and likely to deteriorate even further. The United Nations estimates that more than 5.2 million people (46 percent of the population) require humanitarian aid this year. Among those in need are nearly 3 million children – the highest number on record.
Kidnappings, killings and gang violence have worsened the economic situation and increased insecurity, particularly in the capital. Gangs control or influence 80 percent of the capital, Port-au-Prince. They also control strategic access routes in the country and have expanded their criminal activities throughout Haiti. Armed gangs commit serious abuses against the population, including large-scale sexual violence, forcing entire communities to flee.
Since the beginning of the year, a renewed wave of gang violence killed hundreds of people and further deepened the humanitarian, security and political crisis in Haiti. At least 165,000 people are currently displaced by gang-related violence in the capital.
Violence, widespread poverty, rising costs of living, low agricultural production, and expensive food imports have exacerbated existing food insecurity in Haiti, leaving many women, men, and children suffering from hunger and malnutrition.
According to the latest IPC food security analysis, 4.9 million people - more than 40 percent of the population – are acutely food insecure. About 1.8 million people are suffering from emergency levels of hunger. The number of children suffering from severe wasting has risen to more than 115,000 across the country. Nearly a quarter of Haiti’s children are chronically malnourished.
Recently, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that Haiti needs humanitarian and security assistance, as well as a political path out of the crisis. Guterres also stressed, “the people of Haiti need action to address urgent humanitarian needs. The international community must now act to ease the suffering of the Haitian people.”
The United Nations humanitarian response plan (HRP) for Haiti requires US$720 million to help more than three million people. Yet, the HRP is currently only 24 percent funded.
“I appeal to the world to extend a lifeline of support and fill that financial gap without delay”, the UN chief said.
The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization. The UN agency, awarded the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize, is saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to support people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. The World Food Programme works in over 120 countries and territories. For millions of people worldwide, WFP assistance can make the difference between life and death.
Further information
Full text: Funding cuts force WFP to slash food assistance as one-in-two Haitians go hungry, World Food Programme, press release, published July 17, 2023
https://www.wfp.org/news/funding-cuts-force-wfp-slash-food-assistance-one-two-haitians-go-hungry