More than 50,000 people have been displaced in the past two weeks due to insecurity linked to armed groups, while across the country, 5.4 million people face acute hunger, "one of the highest proportions of food insecurity per capita in the world," WFP said.

"WFP stands with the Haitian people during this difficult time," said Wanja Kaaria, WFP Country Director in Haiti. "We have delivered record amounts of food assistance to Haitians in Port-au-Prince and across the country in recent months and we will do even more in the weeks to come."

Haiti has seen a steady increase in hunger in recent years, reaching 48% in 2024, the highest level since the 2010 earthquake.

In response to the latest influx of displaced people, WFP and partners have stepped up support with hot meals and cash assistance. The UN agency is currently providing meals to more than 50,000 displaced people each day, the highest number served per day since the crisis began.

In November, WFP and its partners served a record 834,000 hot meals in 48 sites hosting displaced people… and since the beginning of the year, nearly 3 million hot meals that are largely prepared with locally grown and purchased ingredients.

WFP plans to expand its food assistance operations to meet the growing needs, targeting 1.85 million Haitians with emergency assistance while supporting efforts to strengthen resilient national systems. However, to fund its operations over the next six months, WFP requires $94 million.

Last week, the agency chartered two ships to transport 21 trucks loaded with food, medicines and health supplies from Port-au-Prince to the South region. This will help pre-position food stocks for its operations and those of its local partners in the South region; medicines and health supplies that have been out of stock for months at health centres will also be replenished.

This month, WFP regained access to Croix-des-Bouquets, in the north of the capital, which was previously inaccessible to aid workers due to armed violence. With this breakthrough, WFP was able to deliver rice, beans and cooking oil, as part of a large-scale distribution in several neighbourhoods, reaching nearly 150,000 people.

HL/ HaitiLibre