Armed gang violence has increased in recent months, pushing many people to seek refuge in safer places, with an estimated 362,000 people now internally displaced – around 17,000 people have left Port-au-Prince for the departments, leaving behind their livelihoods and facing even more vulnerable situations. 

Compared to the previous projection made during the August 2023 analysis, the situation has deteriorated, with approximately 4.97 million people (50 percent of the analysed population) facing high levels of acute food insecurity for the period March to June 2024. This includes approximately 1.64 million people (17 percent of the analysed population) classified in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency), and another 3.32 million (33 percent of the analysed population), classified in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis). The current update shows a stark deterioration of food security in Haiti, with 532,000 additional people experiencing acute food insecurity compared to previous estimates for this season. 

The key drivers to this deterioration are increased gang violence, rising prices, low agricultural production due to below-normal rainfall, and the lack of previously planned humanitarian aid. Despite major efforts by partners and the government, between August and December 2023, only 5 percent of the population benefitted from humanitarian food assistance. In the coming months, partners plan to reach 8 percent of the population, with significant efforts in Gonâve and Croix de Bouquet.

Livelihood support

Recurrent climate-related shocks such as drought, earthquakes and floods have led to rising food prices, fuel scarcity and and food insecurity putting vulnerable households at risk. Urgent action needs to be taken to restore their livelihoods and assets. Actions to support resilience should focus on agriculture and livestock inputs, rural credits and material support.

Emergency interventions

Urgent action is needed to assist the most vulnerable households to reduce their food consumption deficits, avoid a total and irreversible collapse of their livelihoods and save their lives.

Articulation between emergency and development

Considering the strong influence of structural risk factors for acute household food insecurity (agricultural development, access to basic services, governance, etc.) and the need to promote the link between emergency and development, it is essential to rethink intervention strategies.