Haiti: 42% of population facing high levels of acute food insecurity

Between August 2020-February 2021, 42% of the analysed population (around 4 million people) are facing high acute food insecurity and are in urgent need of action. That includes 905,471 people classified in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) and 3,083,497 people classified in Crisis (IPC Phase 3). For the projected period, March-June 2021, 46% of the analysed population (around 4.4 million people) are expected to face high acute food insecurity. That includes 1,156,915 million people in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) and 3,198,820 people in Crisis (IPC Phase 3).

Among the 28 areas analyzed, two are in Emergency (IPC Phase 4): Gonâve (West HT01) and the Upper North-West (North-WestHT02). The rest of the country has been classified as Crisis (IPC Phase3). Among the zones classified as Emergency (IPC Phase 4) the areas experiencing the highest levels of food insecurity, with around 15% of population in Emergency are: the Haut Artibonite (Artibonite HT01), the lower North-West (HT01), the coastal areas of the South (South HT08), South-East HT01 and Cité Soleil. Among the zones classified in Crisis (IPC Phase 3), the North, the lower North-West (North-West HT01), the South-East HT01 and Cité Soleil have the most people in need of immediate assistance, with 50% of the population in Crisis (Phase 3) or higher.

KEY DRIVERS

Economic decline: Inflation, exchange rate deterioration, reduction in remittances.
Poor harvests: Poor agricultural harvests due to below-normal rainfall.
Hurricane Laura was a deadly and damaging Category 4 Atlantic hurricane; the island's strongest hurricane on record since 1856.
Impact of the COVID-19 epidemic: The COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions to control it have negatively impacted the economy and livelihoods.

Actions Needed

Emergency Interventions: Considering the severity of food insecurity in areas classified as Crisis (IPC Phase 3) and Emergency (IPC Phase 4), urgent action is required for the poorest and most affected households in order for them to better meet their immediate food needs and prevent the implementation of additional coping strategies

Support for Livelihoods: Considering that vulnerable households have been affected by recurrent shocks in recent years (drought, cyclones, price hikes), there is an erosion of the livelihoods of affected populations who need support to rebuild and develop their livelihoods and assets. This assistance should, in particular, translate into support (inputs, credits, materials, etc.) for the implementation of the winter and spring planting seasons.

Linkage between Emergency and Development: Considering that structural factors (agricultural development, access to basic services, governance, etc.) have a strong influence on acute household food insecurity, it is important to better articulate the interventions of emergency and development assistance and rethink intervention strategies in order to have more lasting and structural effects on household food and nutritional security.