Haiti (case study)

• Nearly 50% of Haiti's population is food insecure
• Haiti is among the hungriest places in the world and has one of the highest levels of chronic food insecurity with 22% of children being chronically malnourished
• Where is Haiti?

  Haiti is a country in the Caribbean close to the United States, Jamaica, Cuba and the Dominica Republic.
• Haiti occupies the western third of Hispaniola (the second largest island in the Caribbean). The island is characterised by mountainous terrain.
• Haiti is very vulnerable to natural disasters because of its location and the fact that it is a low lying country
• Haiti has limited agricultural land due to the mountain ranges there aren't a lot of plots of land to grow crops and raise farm animals
• Haiti is very dependent on imports due to its topography and other factors hindering agriculture.
• Haiti is located within the hurricane belt of the Atlantic Ocean making it extremely vulnerable to tropical storms during the Atlantic hurricane season which is June to November.
• As a Caribbean nation, Haiti experiences a tropical climate characterised by warm temperatures all year round with a distinct wet season from May to October and a drier season from November to April.
• The causes of food insecurity in Haiti are:

  • Violence caused by armed groups & disrupted agriculture --> drives affordable meals out of reach for millions of families
  • Hazards such as earthquakes, storms and floods
  • Chronic socio-political instability and deteriorating economy
  • Depending on importing food when the majority of the population is in poverty and inflation continues to rise
  • Rainfall in some areas of the country may result in average agricultural production levels
  • The assassination of President Moïse in July 2021 triggered increased food insecurity and civil unrest
• How is food insecurity in Haiti being mitigated?

  • USAID works with organisation like the UN World Food Program (WFP) to be able to give money to around 190,000 hungry people find different parts of Haiti so they can buy food
  • Organisations also reduce the risk of disasters and improve things like roads and buildings in certain areas
  • World Vision gives vouchers for food and seeds to over 26,000 people in Haiti
• Food for Peace Program

  Provides emergency food assistance to displaced populations and supports sustainable agriculture practices in Haiti.
• UNHCR Efforts in Haiti

  Supports displaced populations through emergency food assistance, shelter, and protection services in Haiti.
• Gang warfare in the capital, Port - au - Prince has reached new heights of intensity and brutality during 2022 and the amount of territory they control has also reached unprecedented levels.
• The 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck the south of Haiti in 2021 had an affect on the food security in Haiti
• SUMMARY of Food insecurity in Haiti:

  It is driven by economic instability, political turmoil, and natural disasters. As one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, many families struggle to afford adequate food. Continuous political instability and frequent natural disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes devastate crops and infrastructure. Rising food prices and poor infrastructure hinder food distribution, especially in rural areas. Addressing food insecurity involves international aid, government initiatives, and NGOs promoting sustainable agricultural practices.