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Gang violence in Port-au-Prince threatens more than a million food-insecure Haitians |


In addition to being severely affected by the global food and fuel crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in recent decades, the people of Haiti have also suffered from terrible earthquakes, tropical storms, and landslides. land and floods, along with chronic lawlessness and punishment.

Jean-Martin Bauer said: “The situation is getting out of control. WFP Haitian Country Director. “Much of Port-au-Prince is controlled by gangs; the data that we have, shows that the situation over the last 90 days has gotten worse … based on what is a very vulnerable place, we’ve got a million people in this city with severe food insecurity. “

Speaking via Zoom from Port-au-Prince, Mr. Bauer explained that 150 to 200 gangs operate thereand things are getting “worse by the day” for Haitians.

No-go area

“Since Friday, the downtown area has been at war at the port, in Cité Soleil, and yesterday in La Saline, places very close to the port and also close to where hundreds of thousands of very poor people live. .”

These included a heavily pregnant woman who had to shelter on her floor all day for fear of getting caught in the crossfire during a protracted gunfight, the WFP official explained. The next day, just as she was able to leave her house, someone set it on fire. She later gave birth and now lives in a center for displaced people.

Recruited to fight

According to two local youth-focused organizations, 13% of children surveyed in a disadvantaged neighborhood in Port-au-Prince had been in contact with members of armed gangs attempting to recruit them.

“The background is gang violence, people are not able to work, people cannot sell their products and at the same time food prices are increasing.‘ said Mr. Bauer.

“And, Haiti is an import-dependent country so it’s really at the forefront of what’s going on” – referring to the fact that the Caribbean island imports 70% of its food needs, and as places other, has been affected by Ukraine’s global food and fuel crisis.

“Inflation here is already at 26%,” the WFP official said. “Food inflation is 52%this is according to the Haitian Government and analysis of the food baskets that they make here. “

Aid solution

To further ensure that vulnerable Haitians receive assistance outside the capital, WFP has used sea routes, rather than trucks.

WFP establishes a maritime service to bypass the gangs around Port-au-Prince, so what we do is send trucks to the port, they get on a ferry chartered by WFP and that ship goes south or north, to make sure that humanitarian aid continues continue to reach all Haitians, wherever they are. “

According to WFP, 4.4 million Haitians need immediate food assistance, almost half of the population. The United Nations agency has called for $39 million to fund its support over the next six months.


Emergency food aid is prepared to be distributed to Haitians.

© WFP

Emergency food aid is prepared to be distributed to Haitians.



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