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Haiti has reached a grim milestone, with half of its population facing acute hunger – one of the highest per capita proportions of food insecurity worldwide.  

Among these, over 2 million people are facing emergency levels of food insecurity.

More than 700,000 people have been displaced by ongoing fighting, mostly in the capital Port-au-Prince and Artibonite region. More than 50,000 Haitians were displaced in just two weeks in November 2024.

In Port-au-Prince alone, at least 6,000 internally displaced people are facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity marked by looming starvation and death, due to extreme hunger and critical acute malnutrition.

WFP is expanding food assistance in response to growing needs, targeting 1.85 million people with emergency relief while also supporting efforts to strengthen national resilient systems.

WFP chartered two maritime vessels in November 2024 to transport 21 trucks loaded with food, medicines and health supplies from Port-au-Prince to the southern region. This will allow WFP to preposition food stocks for operations, including those of our partners, in the southern region. Medicines and other supplies will also be replenished at health centres .

We requires US$132.1 million to fund operations in 2025.

What the World Food Programme is doing to respond to the Haiti emergency

Emergency assistance
Through its emergency programmes, WFP provides unconditional food and cash assistance to vulnerable households WFP is providing meals to more than 50,000 IDPs per day. WFP and partners are wrapping up a large-scale distribution of food rations to more than 146,000 people in various neighbourhoods of Port-au-Prince including in areas which have been besieged by armed groups.
Emergency preparedness
WFP supports the Government with emergency food assistance, logistics and emergency telecommunications. By pre-positioning essential supplies across the country, WFP can rapidly respond to sudden-onset disasters and crises, addressing the most urgent needs, while planning additional assistance for the weeks that follow. When fully stocked, WFP reserves can provide unconditional food assistance – including rice, beans and oil – to up to 300,000 people for one month. Additionally, WFP employs a multifaceted approach to shock response. This includes developing a national social registry, facilitating digitized cash transfers and establishing an early-warning system. In collaboration with the Directorate of Civil Protection, WFP has implemented a system to deliver prompt SMS storm warnings and anticipatory cash transfers – helping vulnerable populations better prepare for and mitigate the effect of climate shocks.
Logistics
The United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) provides a vital lifeline to the wider humanitarian community through passenger and light cargo services, allowing aid workers to reach those most in need right across the country. UNHAS resumed flights in November 2024, after a temporary interruption following incidents in which three commercial airliners were hit by gunfire at or near Port-au-Prince international airport.
Resilience building
WFP is committed to providing longer-term as well as emergency assistance, aimed at strengthening the resilience of vulnerable people through asset creation and livelihood programmes. This includes projects focused on building or restoring community assets such as rural roads and canals, among others, while providing cash transfers in exchange for their work. These initiatives not only provide much-needed assets, but also contribute to strengthening community cohesion via inclusive participative capacity-building processes.

How you can help

Humanitarian needs are rising sharply in Haiti. Please donate today and help life-saving food reach those families who need it the most.
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