UN report- About 5.4 million people face severe hunger in Haiti
In a recent report from the United Nations, alarming statistics reveal the severity of the food crisis in Haiti, where escalating gang violence and political turmoil have left approximately 5.4 million people facing serious hunger, with nearly 6,000 individuals in a state of famine.
According to The Guardian, the World Food Programme and its partners have identified this as the highest record of food insecurity in the Caribbean nation, making Haiti the country with the highest proportion of severely food-insecure citizens globally. This increase represents a troubling development, as 600,000 more people have slipped into “crisis” levels of hunger since earlier peaks noted in early 2024 and throughout 2023.
Gang control over major roadways has severely disrupted food supply chains, leading to significant price hikes. In response, an alliance of 12 major aid organizations is urgently calling for immediate action to address the worsening hunger crisis.
Civil society groups in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, issued a public letter warning that, “Without immediate intervention, the hunger crisis in Haiti will deepen, bringing catastrophic consequences for millions of vulnerable individuals.”
The report highlights that just a decade ago, only 2% of Haiti’s population faced food insecurity. However, following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, gangs have since asserted control over more than 80% of the capital region, exacerbating the situation significantly.
