Haiti’s fragile gains against hunger at risk, WFP warns

Rome — The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has issued an urgent appeal for international support to prevent a worsening food crisis in Haiti, warning that more than half the population is facing acute food insecurity and that recent, hard-won gains remain dangerously fragile.

New data from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification shows that 5.8 million people around 52 per cent of Haiti’s population are experiencing crisis levels of hunger or worse. Of these, more than 1.8 million are in emergency conditions, unable to meet even their most basic food needs and increasingly forced to exhaust their remaining assets.

The figures, covering March to June 2026, underline the scale of the crisis in a country where millions remain on the brink of survival.

Despite the severity of the situation, the WFP reported limited progress in 2025. Working with the Haitian government and international partners, the agency reached 2.7 million people through emergency food assistance, school meals, social protection programmes and support for smallholder farmers, contributing to a slight improvement compared to earlier projections.

However, the agency warned that these gains could quickly unravel.

“Small improvements must not lead to complacency,” said Wanja Kaaria, WFP’s country director in Haiti, cautioning that rising fuel prices driven in part by instability in the Middle East are pushing up transportation and food costs, placing further strain on already vulnerable families.

The warning comes as Haiti continues to grapple with overlapping crises, including armed violence, political instability and economic collapse. More than 1.4 million people have been displaced, with around 300,000 living in overcrowded and unsanitary temporary shelters, particularly in the capital, Port au Prince.

Natural disasters have further compounded the situation. Hurricane Melissa, which struck southern Haiti in late 2025, dealt another blow to already fragile food systems and livelihoods.

Kaaria stressed that tackling hunger is essential to restoring stability, warning that food insecurity is increasingly being exploited by armed groups. “We cannot build peace when families have nothing to feed their children,” she said, noting that women and children are particularly vulnerable to exploitation.

The WFP is seeking $332 million in funding over the next 12 months to sustain its operations. If secured, the agency aims to continue assisting at least 2.7 million people through emergency aid and long-term resilience programmes.

Without immediate support, the organisation warned, Haiti risks sliding deeper into crisis, with serious consequences for both food security and national stability.

PS