Haiti hunger crisis

Haiti is facing an unprecedented political and humanitarian crisis, with children exposed to widespread hunger, gang violence, rape, school closures and a cholera epidemic.

Following a mission by the IASC Emergency Directors Group in March, the UN is urgently calling for humanitarian presence and response in Haiti to be ramped up. It is estimated that the UN and its partners will need $720 million to reach more than 3.2 million people this year – more than double the sum needed last year, and the highest amount since the 2010 earthquake.

Daphne De Bordes, Acting Country Director for Plan International Haiti says the situation is extremely difficult. “Haiti is facing one of the worst scenarios ever due to hunger, insecurity, and social instability. Armed gangs are now extending their influence beyond Port-au-Prince, forcing families to leave their homes, paralysing basic services, and depriving girls of their right to protection and education.”

Haiti: one of the worst countries for hunger

Plan International has been responding to the hunger crisis in Haiti as a red alert since June 2022, providing life-saving support to children and their families, especially girls.

From June 2022 to April 2023, we have delivered:

• Cash transfers to 24,819 people, from 3,722 households. The value of the cash transfers delivered to each family is 15,600 gourdes (100 EUR). Families also received awareness training on nutrition and child protection.
• WASH kits to 1,021 households, in response to the cholera outbreak. The hygiene kits include two laundry soaps, two toilet soaps, one pack of sanitary pads, one deodorant, one bag of chlorine granular, one 16-oz bottle of liquid chlorine, and a bucket with a tap. The purification kits include three laundry soaps and one box of 60 water purification tablets.
• Eight hand pumps were repaired in four communities in the North East Department.
• Radio broadcasts promoting protection, genre, and nutritional awareness reached 18 villages.

But much more is needed. We can’t allow Haiti to become a forgotten crisis and reach a point of no return. Please, will you help?