More than half of Haiti’s population is facing acute food insecurity, prompting the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to warn that recent progress in tackling hunger remains fragile and could quickly be reversed without urgent support.
New data from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) shows that around 5.8 million people, roughly 52% of the population, are experiencing crisis levels of hunger or worse (IPC Phase 3 and above). Of these, more than 1.8 million are in emergency conditions (IPC Phase 4), meaning they are unable to meet basic food needs and are exhausting their last coping mechanisms.
The figures, covering the period from March to June 2026, highlight the scale of a deepening humanitarian crisis driven by insecurity, economic strain and widespread displacement.
According to the WFP, nearly 6 million Haitians are expected to face acute food insecurity in the coming months, as gang violence continues to disrupt daily life and access to food.
Armed groups have expanded their control in parts of the country, while more than 1.4 million people have been displaced, putting further pressure on already strained food systems. Many families have been forced from their homes into overcrowded and unsanitary shelters, particularly in the capital, Port-au-Prince.
Despite the grim outlook, there have been modest improvements. The latest IPC projection is slightly lower than an earlier estimate of 5.91 million people facing acute hunger, and the number in emergency conditions has also declined slightly. Aid agencies attribute this to sustained food assistance, easing inflation and improved harvests in some areas.
The WFP says its support helped around 200,000 Haitians move out of emergency hunger levels over the past year. In 2025 alone, the agency assisted 2.7 million people through emergency food aid, school meal programmes, social protection schemes and support for smallholder farmers.
However, officials warn these gains remain precarious.
“Fighting hunger is essential to restoring stability in Haiti. We cannot build peace if families cannot feed their children,” said WFP Haiti country director Wanja Kaaria.
Rising global fuel prices, partly linked to the conflict in the Middle East, are increasing transportation and food costs, threatening to push more families back into crisis. Humanitarian agencies say the surge in costs is affecting both food production and distribution across the country.
“These small improvements must not lead to complacency,” Ms Kaaria warned. “Higher fuel prices risk rolling back gains and pushing already vulnerable families deeper into crisis.”
Haiti’s food insecurity has been worsening for nearly a decade, driven by a combination of political instability, economic shocks, armed violence and vulnerability to extreme weather events, including hurricanes.
The WFP is now calling for increased international funding to sustain emergency operations and invest in longer-term solutions aimed at rebuilding local food systems.
The agency says it needs $332 million over the next 12 months to continue its work and plans to reach more than 2.7 million people with both emergency assistance and resilience support.
Aid groups warn that without sustained intervention, hunger will continue to fuel instability, as vulnerable populations become more exposed to exploitation by armed groups and other risks.
The United States eased sanctions on Iran for 60 days as President Donald Trump warned he would do "what I have to do" if Tehran failed to honour the ...
The European Union is set to host Taliban officials in Brussels for talks on migration, marking the first known visit by the group to an EU meeting si...
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said the country must continue strengthening its nuclear capabilities to deal with what he described as an increas...
Andy Burnham, the frontrunner to be Britain’s next Prime Minister, was sworn in as a member of Parliament on Monday, just hours after Keir Starmer a...
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 23 June, covering the latest developments you need to know. ...
Canada lit up their World Cup campaign with a thrilling, at times troubling night in Vancouver, while across the tournament, Mexico marched on, Scotland battled bravely in defeat, and the United States and Brazil underlined their growing intent.
Australia put on a defensive masterclass as they beat Türkiye 2-0 in Vancouver in the final opening Group D match.
As the World Cup kick-off approaches, teams from across the globe arrive with contrasting narratives, some seeking redemption, others chasing history, and a few hoping simply to belong.
At least 30 people were killed on Saturday in a stampede at Haiti’s Laferrière Citadel World Heritage Site, with authorities warning that the death toll could rise.
At least thirteen people have died and sixty-six have been injured following an explosion at Qatar's main liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing hub at Ras Laffan, authorities said on Sunday.
Cape Verde’s remarkable FIFA World Cup debut continued on Sunday (21 June) as the tournament newcomers held Uruguay to a 2-2 draw. Goalkeeper Vozinha was once again at the centre of the story, this time with his mother watching from the stands.
Tehran has agreed to let the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recommence inspections of its nuclear programme, U.S. Vice President JD Vance has said. The U.S. and Iran have settled on a 60-day roadmap aimed at reaching a final deal, according to mediators Qatar and Pakistan.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed on a landmark internet deal that will allow traffic to pass through Azerbaijani networks.It's the latest deal to highlight the ongoing peace process between the two countries.
Three students have been killed and at least seven injured after two of their peers opened fire in a high school in the Philippines, police said. A spokesperson for the police said the two suspects, aged 14 and 15, had been arrested and a police pistol confiscated. Bullying is a possible motive.
The United States has launched an investigation into Germany's pharmaceutical pricing policies to determine whether they unfairly disadvantage American companies and restrict U.S. commerce.
Australia has confirmed its first mainland case of H5N1 bird flu, ending its status as the only continent with a mainland free of the virus and prompting authorities to step up efforts to contain any spread.
The European Commission has announced €493 million in emergency support for the Ebola response, including funding for vaccines, treatment and health security measures.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed an $800 million contribution from the U.S., saying the funding will strengthen humanitarian operations as global hunger continues to rise.
A Canadian mother has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its chief executive Sam Altman, alleging that the company's ChatGPT chatbot encouraged her daughter's suicidal thoughts and failed to intervene before her death.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment