The United States Government, through USAID’s Office of Food for Peace, has committed $8.8M to the UN World Food Program (WFP), to support Haiti’s critical food security requirements. Haiti’s farmers are the foundation of the nation’s economy and have suffered under difficult circumstances for the last few years. This assistance will address the emergency needs of the most food-insecure, rural Haitians and also those living in difficult urban circumstances through cash transfers and community.

U.S. Ambassador to Haiti, Michele Sison, stressed that, "The global spread of COVID-19 has unfortunately exacerbated a previously existing food insecurity situation in Haiti. As a result of the U.S. government’s commitment to humanitarian assistance in the region, we have identified food insecurity in Haiti as an area for immediate support. The $8.8 million commitment on behalf of the American people, represents the next level of support for the Haitian people during this pandemic."

USAID Mission Director Christopher Cushing noted, "This assistance will address urgent needs among Haiti’s most vulnerable communities. As USAID provides this emergency assistance we will also continue to work with the people of Haiti, by helping families and individuals meet reliable sources of quality food and sufficient resources to produce or purchase it. This in return addresses the root causes of hunger, and supports building more equitable and sustainable economic opportunities in the country."

USAID’s assessment of the situation in Haiti has revealed that up to one million Haitians will be facing crisis level food insecurity between April and May 2020. The Government of Haiti’s National Food Security Coordination analysis indicates that the cost of items purchased regularly by Haitian families have increased 25 percent over the last year. Given these conditions, Haitians are struggling more than ever to meet their basic food essentials.

Since April, USAID’s Office of Food for Peace has also released, and WFP has distributed, 2,600 metric tons of emergency food stocks to approximately 100,000 vulnerable Haitians in response to the food security crisis.

HL/ Haitlibre