\n<\/p>\n
Haiti faces one of the world\u2019s most severe food crises that is only worsening due to steep funding cuts to WFP relief programmes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe urge international partners to step up to enable WFP and partners to provide not only life-saving emergency assistance, but also to invest in programmes addressing the root causes of hunger,<\/strong>\u201d said Wanja Kaaria, the agency\u2019s director in Haiti.<\/p>\n The WFP reported that armed groups now control nearly 90 per cent of the country\u2019s capital, Port-au-Prince, leading to higher food prices for a population already facing grave food insecurity and obstructing farmers\u2019 access to markets.<\/p>\n A staggering 1.3 million people, more than half of them children, have been forced to flee<\/strong> their homes in search of food and shelter, says the WFP, while over 16,000 people have been killed and some 7,000 injured since January 2022, according to UN human rights chief Volker T\u00fcrk.<\/p>\n The violence is spreading beyond the country\u2019s capital and into nearby regions \u2013 fertile ground for more arms, drugs and human trafficking, Mr. T\u00fcrk said, in an\u00a0update on the situation in Haiti to the Human Rights Council.<\/p>\n \u201cMore children are being subjected to trafficking, exploitation and forced recruitment by the gangs,\u201d he continued.\u00a0 \u201cWe can only imagine the long-term impact, for the children of Haiti, and for society as a whole.\u201d<\/p>\n The WFP requires $139 million for the next 12 months to reach Haiti\u2019s most vulnerable families. Currently, funding shortfalls have forced the agency to suspend hot meals for newly displaced families and slash food rations in half<\/strong>.<\/p>\n For the first time ever, the WFP has not prepositioned food stocks to respond to any climate-related disaster during the Atlantic hurricane season because of lack of resources.<\/p>\n \u201cToday, more than half of all Haitians don\u2019t have enough to eat<\/strong>,\u201d said Ms. Kaaria. \u201cWith our current levels of funding, WFP and partners are struggling to keep starvation at bay for thousands of the most vulnerable \u2013 children, mothers, entire families who are running out of options and hope.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite challenges, the WFP has reached over two million people in need since January 2022 and is working with the Haitian government to provide school meals to thousands of students, among other aid.<\/p>\n In his update, Mr. T\u00fcrk expressed concern that Haitian Government-backed security forces have been responsible for some \u201cunnecessary and disproportionate lethal force\u201d in their fight against the gangs.<\/p>\n More than half of killings and injuries so far this year have been at the hands of State authorities, with 174 people executed for alleged gang affiliations.<\/p>\nOver 16,000 killed<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\u2018Running out of options and hope\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n
State violence<\/strong><\/h2>\n