The Washington Centre for Human Rights today issued an urgent call to the international community, donor governments, and humanitarian agencies to take immediate and decisive action to prevent a catastrophic hunger crisis in Haiti. With the 2025 hurricane season underway, a single storm could push hundreds of thousands of Haitians deeper into hunger and displacement, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian emergency.
Haiti faces a complex crisis driven by political instability, rampant gang violence, economic collapse, and climate vulnerability. Over 5.7 million people—more than half of the population—are currently food insecure, including over 2 million facing emergency levels of hunger. The assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021 plunged the country into political chaos, with armed gangs now controlling approximately 85 percent of Port-au-Prince and expanding into surrounding areas, further destabilizing the country.
Lola Castro, Regional Director for the World Food Programme (WFP) in Latin America and the Caribbean, recently highlighted the severity of the situation:
“In the last four years I’ve been going to Haiti and always had humanitarian stocks in the country to assist between a quarter- to half-a-million people if there was any hurricane, earthquake, or new displacement. This year, we start the hurricane season with an empty warehouse where we have no stocks for assisting any emergency. Or we have no cash neither to go and buy locally if it was possible in some areas or to do a rapid humanitarian response. We are very concerned that the single storm can put hundreds of thousands of people in Haiti again into humanitarian catastrophe and hunger.”
The Washington Centre for Human Rights echoes this concern and stresses that urgent funding is critical. The WFP requires $46.4 million over the next six months to sustain emergency food assistance and prepare for natural disasters. However, the broader 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan for Haiti remains severely underfunded at just eight percent of its $900 million target.
Women and girls face heightened risks amid the crisis. Castro noted:
“Six thousand women and girls have reported some type of gender-based violence, which is really not acceptable. And I would say Port-au-Prince is probably one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a woman or a girl now.”
Displacement sites are overcrowded and lack adequate protection, health, and sanitation services, increasing vulnerability to violence and exploitation.
Children are also severely affected. WFP’s school meals program currently provides daily meals to 550,000 children, sourcing 70 percent of the food locally to support Haitian farmers. Yet funding shortages threaten to reduce this support by half in the coming academic year, risking increased malnutrition and school dropouts.
Haiti’s geographic location makes it highly vulnerable to hurricanes and extreme weather. The country ranks third on the Climate Risk Index for extreme weather impacts. Previous storms have devastated crops and infrastructure, compounding food insecurity. This year, Haiti enters the hurricane season without prepositioned emergency stocks or sufficient cash reserves, leaving the population exposed to further shocks.
Key Statistics:
- 5.7 million people face acute food insecurity
- Over 2 million people in emergency hunger (IPC Phase 4)
- Over 1.5 million internally displaced persons
- Over 6,000 reported cases of gender-based violence in 2025
- WFP requires $46.4 million for emergency response over six months
- 550,000 children receive daily school meals, 70% sourced locally
- Armed gangs control approximately 85% of Port-au-Prince
The Washington Centre for Human Rights calls on:
- Donor governments and international agencies to immediately increase funding for Haiti’s humanitarian response, enabling rapid and flexible deployment of food, health, and protection services.
- Humanitarian organizations to prioritize protection of vulnerable populations, especially women, girls, and displaced families, expanding gender-based violence prevention and response programs.
- Haitian authorities and security actors to improve security conditions to facilitate humanitarian access and protect civilians.
- The global community to support long-term development and climate resilience initiatives to address the root causes of Haiti’s chronic vulnerability.
The Washington Centre for Human Rights urges all the Haitian authorities, armed groups, UN agencies, regional organizations (OAS, CARICOM), donor governments, humanitarian actors, and civil society to coordinate and intensify efforts urgently. Immediate increased funding, enhanced security measures, protection of vulnerable populations, and inclusive political dialogue are essential to prevent a catastrophic hunger crisis and restore peace and stability in Haiti.
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