(2010) Price Monitoring and Analysis Country Brief: Haiti, September-December 2010

Food Security Information for Decision Making www.foodsec.org European Union Price Monitoring and Analysis Country Brief Haiti September-December 2010 Key Messages Prices of imported rice have shown a steep increase in recent months, but are generally close to the pre-earthquake levels. Haiti is currently facing a worrying cholera outbreak together with violence caused by November elections and flooding impacts of Tomas hurricane. Food security continues to improve, but according to different agencies, some parts of the country continue to suffer from high levels of hunger. The Government and international community are helping the population in dealing with the cholera outbreak and flooding. Background The total population of Haiti is around 10 million with a 1% annual growth rate. The undernourished population reached 57% while 54% lives below the poverty line. The proportion of the population with access to improved sanitation is 17%. Economic Indicators Total Population (millions) - 2009 (WB) View Data 10.033 Food Consumption Undernourished Population - 2005/2007 (FAO) 57% Population growth rate - 2009 (WB) 1% Cereal share in total dietary energy consumption - 2007 (FAO) 46% GNI per capita, $ PPP n.a. Meat share in total dietary energy consumption - 2007 (FAO) 4% Population below 1$ PPP per day - 2001 (MDGI) 54% Rural population - 2009 (WB) 51% Agriculture, value added (% of GDP) - 2003 (WB) 27% Prices Food prices have now generally returned to their levels prior to the earthquake. However, prices of imported rice in Port au Prince and in Jacmel have increased from 36.76 Gourdes/Kg in both cities (Sept) to 45.93 and 55.13 respectively in Nov. Local rice prices in Port au Prince, were stable at around 87.28 Gourdes/Kg in Sept/Oct and then dropped to 84.53 in Nov. Whereas in Jacmel rice was traded at 110.23 in Nov compared to 101 Gourdes/Kg in Sept. Quotations of maize continue to be relatively stable at 22.05 Gourdes/Kg in both cities. Rice (imported) price (1133.48 USD/T) on local markets was 164% higher than the price of Rice Thai A1 Super (429.6 USD/T) in Nov. Health Indicators Pop. with sustainable access to improved sanitation - 2008 (WHO) 17% Life expectancy at birth (years) both sexes - 2008 (WHO) 62 Pop. with access to improved drinking water sources - 2008 (WHO) 63% Prevalence of HIV among adults aged >= 15 years - 2009 (WHO) 1.9% Food Security Situation Assessment The good performance of the spring and summer cropping season, the satisfactory availability of imported commodities on the market at relatively low prices, at least till September, and the implementation of cash and food for work programmes have contributed to improving food security conditions. An estimated 1.7 million people are food insecure throughout the country. According to FEWSNET, highly food insecure areas are restricted to the southern part of the North-western department and to some localized areas of the South-East and North-East departments. GIEWS reports that food consumption improves, but levels of food insecurity remain higher than those prior to the earthquake. GIEWS estimates severe localized food insecurity. FAO hunger map describes a very high prevalence of undernourishment, while IFPRI highlights an alarming hunger problem. CURRENT EMERGENCY ASSESMENT Exceptional shortfall Widespread lack of in aggregate food access production supplies Severe localized food insecurity Haiti is not covered by FEWSNET. FAO/GIEWS CPFS 2010 FEWSNET SCALE OF HUNGER (% of Undernourishment) Very high (>= 35%) High (25-34%) Moderately Moderately high (15-24%) low (5-14%) Very low FAO (< 5% under.) Hunger Map FAO Hunger Map classifies all countries of the world into five based on % of population undernourished. Extremely alarming Source: GIEWS National basic food prices data and analysis tool Alarming Serious Moderate Low IFPRI/2010 GHI Food Security Information for Decision Making www.foodsec.org European Union Haiti Vegetation Condition Food Balance Sheet At the end of the dry season, normal vegetation conditions are observed for the major part of the country. The general indicator of vegetation condition provided below is the relative difference between the NDVI for December 2010 and the average of the last 10 years, calculated on the agricultural zones derived from the GLOBCOVER 2005 database (ESA). Source: GIEWS Country Briefs Source: JRC MARS – FoodSec Government Policies Crop phase in the reference period Sowing Bean (Third) Growing Sorghum (Hills) Harvesting Rice (Second) International agencies are supporting the government in assisting the population with health care facilities, food and non food items to overcome different emergencies which struck the country in recent months. After the earthquake an extensive input support scheme was implemented to support agriculture. Natural Disasters, Drought and Conflicts As of January the cholera outbreak has caused 3,651 deaths and 171,304 infections. The emergency is mainly localized in the Artibonite and in the Central department. Moreover in Nov hurricane Tomas resulted in widespread flooding and landslides which particularly hit the south-west of the country. Political tensions and voting confusion erupted after the parliamentary elections in Nov. Refugees and IDPs Total in the country Total outside the country 2007 2008 Consumer and market oriented measures n.a. Producer oriented measures Support to input for crop production. Trade policy measures n.a. Safety net (increased or introduced) Food/non food transfers. Different sources 2009 2 3 23 32539 35737 36015 Source: UNHCR Statistical Online Population Database, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Data extracted on 01/12/2010. Disaster Type (last year) Total cereal production for 2010 was forecast at 502,000 tonnes representing a 9% drop from 2009 output (553,000 T) but some 8% increase over the five year average (463,000T). Summer rice production was estimated to be 15% above the 2009 one. Main maize crop was estimated at 258,000 T. The import requirements for 2010/2011 marketing year (July-June) are put at 711,000 tonnes. Date Location Alert Earthquake 2010-11-12 Ouest Province 1/3 Earthquake 2010-09-21 Ouest 1/3 Flood 2010-11-05 Western Haiti 1/3 Source: Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System - 3 = 1000 or more people killed or 800000 or more people displaced. 2 = 100 or more people killed or 80000 or more displaced. Current events to watch (Click to see the full report) Haiti earthquake: One-year report - Christian's story:... Aristide can have new passport, Haiti says Private Sector Development in Haiti: Opportunities for... Haiti: AmeriCares and Partners Provide Frontline Chole... Ban calls for ‘raising the cost’ for those who use rap... For more information, contact: Information-for-action@fao.org Website: www.foodsec.org Powered By the GIEWS Workstation The Programme on Linkin Information and Decision Making to Improve Food Security is funded by the European Union and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.