Haiti is entering the critical June to November hurricane season for the first time ever without any prepositioned food supplies from the World Food Programme (WFP), a situation described as “dangerously unprotected” by a UN spokesperson. This alarming development comes as over half of the Haitian population already grapples with acute hunger, with the country being one of five globally experiencing famine-like conditions.
The WFP has not only reported a complete absence of contingency food stocks but also stated that its staffers lack the necessary financial resources to respond swiftly to any emergency weather event that might strike the already vulnerable nation.
While other UN agencies have managed to preposition some emergency aid, including water and sanitation kits for 100,000 people and health supplies for 20,000, these are deemed insufficient to meet the overwhelming needs during an emergency, particularly in the absence of vital food supplies.
“The current lack of contingency stocks and operational funds leaves Haiti’s most at-risk communities dangerously unprotected at a time of heightened vulnerability,” Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq stated during a briefing on Tuesday.
The dire food insecurity and rampant malnutrition are exacerbated by continuing armed violence from gangs in the capital and other regions, which has displaced over one million people. This widespread displacement further compounds the hunger crisis and severely limits access to other basic services such as clean water and healthcare.
UN agencies operating in Haiti estimate that a staggering $908 million is required to continue providing life-saving resources to the population. However, they have only received a mere $78 million in emergency support to date, highlighting a severe funding gap as the country braces for potential natural disasters without essential provisions.
With approximately 5.7 million Haitians—nearly half the population—experiencing emergency levels of food insecurity, the country is now among the five worst hunger crises globally. Last week, Lola Castro, WFP’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, urged international attention and support following a recent visit to the country.
