Haiti: WFP Records Record Food Insecurity
Members of the WFP helping the haitian population amid the danger of famine, June 6, 2024 Photo: WFP
June 6, 2024 Hour: 5:48 pm
Figures from the International Organization for Migration state that out of 360,000 Haitians leaving their homes, more than 100,000 of them left Port-au-Prince in March alone.
On Thursday, figures released by the World Food Programme (WFP) show that nearly five million Haitians are now acutely food insecure and more than 1.6 million are considered to be in emergency situations.
The country is experiencing the worst food security crisis since the 2010 earthquake, the head of the UN agency in Haiti, Jean-Martin Bauer, confirmed to the press, calling for more support for the crisis generated by the violence.
According to the representative, the population prioritizes security while the actions of armed gangs impact both humanitarian personnel and locals.
Figures from the International Organization for Migration state that out of 360,000 Haitians leaving their homes, more than 100,000 of them left Port-au-Prince in March alone.
This exodus from the capital is particularly affecting the south of the country, where infrastructure is limited, exacerbating the food crisis, the WFP chief added.
“The country has been at a standstill. The main container ports and the airport were not functioning for months. Gradually they are back in operation,” he added.
Despite the establishment of a Transitional Council and the appointment of a new prime minister, Bauer described the latest phase in the country as violent and unstable.
There is still a sense of crisis, he confirmed, warning of the upcoming hurricane season in the Atlantic, which is expected to be very active this year.
At the same time, he added, food prices in the capital have risen by almost 30 percent since January, dealing another blow to the population.
The WFP country director called on the international community to support Haiti, whose $674 million humanitarian response plan is barely 22 percent funded.
“We need to keep Haiti in the spotlight, even though we know that in some parts of the world not enough attention has been paid to Haiti. While we are looking at other crises, we are looking elsewhere, but the crisis in Haiti is here, it is now and it deserves a response,” he said.
Autor: OSG
Fuente: The Independent, Haiti Libre
