Four million people in the conflict-torn Caribbean suffer “acute food insecurity,” and one million are one step from famine, the UN Food Agency’s chief said Tuesday.
Jean-Martin Bauer told a virtual press conference that he’s “ringing the alarm bell” because gang violence has worsened the situation and displaced 15,000 people in Port-au-Prince over the first weekend in March.
He stated Haiti has approximately 360,000 displaced individuals, half of them are children, according to the UN.
Bauer claimed there were four million food-insecure and starving Haitians in 2020 during the COVID-19 epidemic, and that number hasn’t dropped, but one million are about to starve.
Bauer called Port-au-Prince “a bubble” where gangs control the highways, the port and airport are closed, and no one can enter or leave.
The World Food Programme director said the agency and its partners started a hot meal service for newly displaced individuals in the capital with 2,000 meals a day and today serve approximately 14,000.
He warned that the WFP warehouse will run out of goods in a few weeks unless the port is reopened.
Bauer said WFP can confirm that food basket prices are growing in Port-au-Prince and elsewhere in Haiti, where 50% of Haiti’s food comes from imports.
He claimed there were riots in January, food prices soared 25% in the south when roadblocks prevented trucks from getting to Port-au-Prince with basic needs, and propane, the main fuel for cooking, was scarce.
Bauer said gang violence has raised food prices by at least 10% in recent days.
He said food costs have risen nationwide due to disrupted trade, and rural economies depend on Port-au-Prince.
Bauer said a WFP poll indicated that as prices rise, household incomes fall because individuals can’t work, are “sheltering in place,” and aren’t earning money.
Bauer said he doesn’t read political dynamics, “but we certainly hope that there will be an improvement in security.” Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s resignation will take effect after a temporary presidential council is formed.
People are afraid to take their children to school, shop, or work, which are “extremely risky,” he said.
Bauer said from Cap Haitien in northern Haiti that security isn’t enough.
“We also need a robust humanitarian response,” stated.
Only 2.6% of the UN’s $674 million Haiti humanitarian appeal is financed this year.
Bauer said that WFP fed 160,000 pupils in north and south Haiti and other calm areas on Monday thanks to supplies from local farmers.
Despite the violence, WFP has been able to provide money to Haiti’s poorest using cell phones.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Tuesday that gang violence has forced numerous hospitals to close.
He stated the National Blood Transfusion Centre is importing blood from the Dominican Republic due to blood shortages.
