Title: WFP Faces Funding Shortage, Leaving 100,000 Haitians Hungry
In what is being described as the worst hunger crisis in Haiti’s history, the World Food Programme (WFP) has announced its inability to feed 100,000 Haitians this month due to a lack of funding. This devastating news comes as Haiti is grappling with dire malnutrition and an increasing number of people in desperate need of assistance.
The hunger crisis has been exacerbated by surging food inflation and escalating costs of delivering aid, making it even more challenging for humanitarian organizations like the WFP to address the urgent needs of the population. Unfortunately, donors have also cut funding to the WFP, leaving many Haitians without vital food supplies and financial support.
The situation in Haiti has been dire since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, which triggered a wave of brutal gang violence. This violence has pushed 4.9 million people into food insecurity, intensifying the need for immediate assistance.
Last year, the country witnessed “catastrophic” hunger conditions for the first time in Latin America and the Caribbean, particularly in the slums of Port-au-Prince. Now, earthquakes and severe flooding that occurred last month have further aggravated the hunger crisis. Local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are also struggling to cope with the shortage of funds, making it difficult to provide necessary aid.
As a result, NGOs such as the WFP are being forced to scale back their response programs or withdraw altogether from Haiti. With more than half of the country’s population regularly experiencing hunger, food prices have soared as gangs gain control over food-producing areas. This leaves vulnerable communities with limited access to essential food supplies.
The WFP’s Haiti response plan, which aims to assist 2.3 million people, is currently only 16% funded. If the organization fails to receive $121 million by the end of 2023, it will be unable to help 750,000 Haitians, a quarter of its target population.
The collapse of the Haitian state and the unabated expansion of gangs, which continue to wreak havoc, show no signs of resolution. International discussions on restoring order have made little progress, leaving vulnerable Haitians caught in the crossfire.
In light of these circumstances, the WFP is urgently appealing for financial support to sustain its efforts and prevent vulnerable Haitians from going without much-needed assistance. Without immediate action and increased funding, the dire hunger crisis in Haiti is likely to worsen, endangering the lives of millions.
