Tuesday February 27, 2024, the UN launched an international appeal for donations of $674 million to help 3.6 million people in 2024 in Haiti, a country ravaged by gang violence which is experiencing one of the crises among the most serious food problems in the world.

The Response Plan (Published at the end of January https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41480-haiti-un-humanitarian-needs-for-2024-amount-to-us$674-million-to-help-36-million-haitians-report.html ) occurs in a context marked by a serious protection crisis for millions of Haitians.

In 2023, the country saw the highest number of murders, kidnappings, lynchings and sexual assaults in the last five years. More than 314,000 people are internally displaced, of whom more than 60% will be displaced in 2023; children constitute nearly 55% of the displaced population. Nearly half of the population does not have enough to eat, making Haiti one of the countries experiencing one of the most serious food crises in the world.

The spiral of violence has profoundly disrupted all socio-economic activities and the free movement of people and goods, particularly affecting the capital Port-au-Prince. Attacks by armed gangs on hospitals, schools, playgrounds, markets and transport have reached an alarming level.

"Going to school, the hospital or the market, cultivating your field or obtaining drinking water has become an ordeal for millions of Haitians. Because crossing the threshold of your house means risking death from bullets, being kidnapped by armed gangs or suffering unimaginable violence such as gang rape," declared the Humanitarian Coordinator, Ulrika Richardson.

In 2023, despite access constraints linked to insecurity and limited financial resources, nearly 2.6 million people received at least one form of humanitarian aid through the commitment of humanitarian actors and the Government.

"While welcoming the importance of humanitarian aid in saving lives and reducing suffering, we must recognize that it is not the solution. We must continue to invest in a determined and sustained manner and to work together to find dignified and lasting solutions to the structural problems that hinder the daily lives of the Haitian people. Haiti needs solidarity at this crucial time," said Ms. Richardson.

In addition to the need for actors to adhere to the principle of accountability, Ricard Pierre, the Minister of Planning and External Cooperation, called for a synergy of action between all international institutions and local organizations with a view to enable a harmonious and lasting solution to the crisis. He encouraged all sectors of humanitarian action to stay the course with a view to helping the Haitian population emerge for good from this catastrophic situation.

Download the 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan for Haiti (PDF in French 59 pages) : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/Haiti_HNRP_2024_FR_version-finale.pdf

HL/ HaitiFree