Gang control deepens Haiti food crisis

The United Nations warns that gang control over most of Haiti’s capital is worsening the hunger crisis and blocking humanitarian aid.

Nearly 90% of Port‑au‑Prince is under armed groups’ control, restricting farmers’ access to markets and leaving families increasingly food insecure. About 1.3 million people have been displaced, many taking shelter in overcrowded schools and public buildings.

One displaced mother, Rose Adolph, described her living conditions, saying that at night “we all sleep on top of each other. Imagine eight adults and five children in a single room, 13 people.”

In Cite Soleil, WFP and partner NGOs are rebuilding irrigation systems to support local food production and livelihoods. Nutrition testing and food distributions are underway to reach the most vulnerable, including infants.

WFP spokesperson Tanya Birkbeck highlighted the scale of the crisis, noting that “the city is increasingly being squeezed by armed groups, making it difficult for people to access food. We now have 1.3 million displaced in places like this.”

Haiti remains one of only five countries globally facing catastrophic IPC Phase 5 levels of hunger, equivalent to famine‑like conditions. WFP continues to provide food aid and rebuild infrastructure to support affected communities.

Copied