(2016) Haiti: Rapid Food Security Assessment Post-Hurricane Matthew, 7-10 October 2016

HAITI 2.1 million People in need of food assistance of which 806,000 in urgent need of food assistance Local production and livelihoods highly affected by the hurricane and almost totally destroyed in the Departments of Grande-Anse and Sud Markets 1.4 million Livelihoods People affected People affected Significant increase in food prices expected in the next three months Access to drinking water Rapid food security assessment post-hurricane Matthew, 7-10 October 2016 Substantial degradation of drinking water infrastructure and increase in cholera cases Hurricane Matthew - EFSA Rapid Food Security Assessment 2016 Haiti Priority 1 (Extreme food security impact) In these areas, more than 75% of the population is affected. Livelihoods related to agriculture, breeding and fishing are almost entirely destroyed, in terms of crops, agricultural equipment, stocks of farmers or traders, livestock and fishing boats. The entire Grande-Anse Department is classified in this priority, as well as almost all the coastline of Sud Department from Port Salut to Tiburon, Ile-à-Vache and the communes of Cavaillon, Camp-Perrin, Chantal and Maniche. The commune of Petit-Trou-de-Nippes in the Nippes Department is also part of this priority. 806,000 people Priority 2 (Very high food security impact) In these communes, about 30% of the population is affected. However, the impact on livelihoods is 80% on average i.e. as high as in priority 1. This priority includes six communes of the Sud Department (Aquin, Arniquet, Cayes, St-Jean-du-Sud, St-Louis-du-Sud and Torbeck), five communes of the Nippes Department (Baradères, Grand-Boucan, L’Asile, Petite-Rivière-de-Nippes and Plaisance du Sud), two communes of the Artibonite Department (Anse-Rouge and Grande-Saline), and three communes of the in Nord-Ouest Department (Baie-de-Henne, Bombardopolis and Mole Saint-Nicolas). 577,000 people Priority 3 (High food security impact) In these communes, the proportion of affected population falls below 25%. However, the impact on livelihoods is estimated to be between 60 and 80%. The affected locations include three communes of the Nippes Department (Arnaud, Anse-à-Veau and Fonds-des-Nègres), one commune of the Nord-Ouest Department (Jean-Rabel) and all municipalities of the Sud-Est Department, except for Anse-à-Pitre and Cayes-Jacmel. 460,000 people Priority 4 (Moderate food security impact) In these areas, the proportion of affected population is less than 25% and the impact on livelihoods ranges from 20 to 60%. A total of six communes are in this category: two in the Nippes Department (Miragoâne and Paillant), two in the Sud-Est Department (Anse-à-Pitre and Cayes-Jacmel) as well as the two municipalities of the Gonâve Island (Anse-à-Galets and Pointe-à-Raquette) in the Ouest Department. 88,000 people Overview of food security impact Grande-Anse Department In the Grande-Anse Department, almost 100 percent of the agriculture sector is affected and food availability is very poor. The products available, which are mostly imported, show a sharp decline due to road inaccessibility. At the time of the assessment, seven out of eleven communes in the department were inaccessible by road. Existing stocks in shops were damaged by water intrusions. As a consequence, the current availability of local products is essentially made up of tree fruits (breadfruit, avocados, bananas, citrus, coconut, etc.). Taking into account the current situation, local products on the markets will be soon exhausted. Food prices have not increased significantly. However, households’ livelihoods were severely affected, either through loss of agricultural crops, commercial stocks or livestock, estimated at more than 50 percent. Under these conditions, household income to purchase food is considerably limited, or totally insufficient. In the department, several water sources were affected by landslides and wells were polluted by the flood water. Health facilities are partially or completely non-functional, including the network of drinking water in Jeremie. In these difficult hygienic and sanitary conditions, cases of cholera have already been registered. Sud Department All crops (beans, yam, maize, cassava, millet, pigeon peas) are affected to an irreversible stage. In all communes, 90 percent of forest trees and fruit trees (breadfruit, avocado, banana, coconut and mango trees) have been hardly hit and the remaining 10 percent cannot cover the seasonal production. In Torbeck and les Cayes, 80 percent of the rice fields are damaged by mud flows and 50 percent in St Louis-du–Sud by the floods. Considerable livestock losses have been observed, 95 percent for poultry, more than 80 percent for goats and sheep, 40 to 60 percent for cattle and 20 to 40 percent for pigs. All fishing activities have been paralyzed by the lack of equipment. Nets, traps and other equipment like boats and motors were swept away. These losses have a major impact on the livelihoods of households. Access to drinking water is limited, especially on the coastal strip and particularly in Petite-Rivière-des-Nippes where all sources of water were destroyed. On the axis Port-Salut-Cayes-Aquin, the markets are supplied by imported products. Sellers still have stocks. Local products on sale are wild foods. Although this is considered to be a temporary solution, there is a good availability of wild foods also leading to price reduction. In Roche-à-Bateau, a decrease in the availability of imported products has been observed, due to the lack of physical and economic access to the supplies. The price of charcoal, used for cooking, has increased between 40 and 80 percent, depending on the areas. Drinking water sources are contaminated. There is a very high risk of spread of waterborne diseases. An unconfirmed number of cholera cases was detected by the Ministry of Health. In the Artibonite Department, Anse-Rouge was reportedly the worst-hit commune, while in the Nord-Ouest Department, the four communes of Mole Saint-Nicolas District were the most affected. Throughout this region, Hurricane Matthew ruined 60 to 90 percent of crops, destroying the available stocks and ruining several irrigation canals. Concerning breeding, a key activity in the Nord-Ouest Department, 60 to 80 percent of the cattle was killed by the hurricane. Fishing equipment, the main source of livelihood for the coastal population, was largely swept away or destroyed. In Anse-Rouge, the salt ponds and salt deposits were flooded, causing a total loss of production and stocks. Nippes Department The hurricane destroyed 60 to 80 percent of crops in the Department of Nippes. Worst-hit locations are Petit-Trou-de-Nippes, Baradères, Grand-Boucan, Plaisance-du-Sud, L’Asile, Petite-Rivière-de-Nippes, where 80 percent of crops were destroyed and stocks, gained during the spring months, were largely lost. The production capacities of irrigated crops were also strongly affected after the destruction of irrigation canals and irrigated areas. Key markets like Miragoâne and Fonds-des-Nègres are currently functional, however, the potential unavailability of supplies in the coming weeks can hamper their activities. In the most affected areas of the department, small markets are very poorly supplied. Some products like vegetables, fruits and meat are becoming increasingly scarce, and a slight increase in prices was already observed. Haut-Artibonite and Nord-Ouest Departments The main markets in the region are currently well-stocked and supplied; however they remain vulnerable to disruptions in the coming weeks, as a result of potential lack of supplies. Some products such as fruits, vegetables, tubers and meat are becoming scarce, while a slight increase in prices is observed, except in Mole Saint-Nicolas where the increase is reportedly more substantial. Throughout the affected region, the scarcity of sources of income will have an impact on food accessibility. In Anse-Rouge the access to drinking water was drastically reduced by the contamination of the rivers by animal wastes. The same situation is observed at Baie-de-Henne. Except for the coastal area of Bombardopolis, drinking water infrastructure are damaged, in Mole Saint-Nicolas and Jean-Rabel as well. Cases of cholera have been confirmed in Bombardopolis and Baie-de-Henne following the hurricane. Overview of food security impact Sud-Est Department Agriculture is the sector that is hit-hardest by the hurricane in this area with damages observed in the entire Department. 25 percent of maize was affected, while damage of all other crops accounts for an estimated 60 to 80 percent. Livestock losses are estimated to be 70 percent, fishing 60 percent and trade 40 percent. Given the effects of the hurricane on stocks, availability of seeds is compromised for the next harvest. Availability of some products like vegetables, fruits, and meat is starting to decrease. The main markets of Bainet, Jacmel, La Vallée and Marigot are currently active, however, due to the swollen rivers that have hampered road-access, markets functioning might be compromised. As a matter of fact, some sellers and buyers cannot access them. Dysfunction and price increases are expected in the next weeks, especially for local products, if the roads do not reopen. In addition, a slight increase in prices of imported products is already observed with wholesalers while retail prices remain stable. The de-capitalization and deterioration of resources of farming families, exacerbated by the limitation of their purchasing power, has significantly reduced the demand. Almost all water sources were damaged, contaminated or destroyed in all the areas assessed. Cases of cholera were identified in the communes of Anse-à-Pitre, Bainet, Grand-Gosier and La Vallée. Latrines in these areas urgently need to be repaired. Other coastal areas – Grande-Saline (Artibonite) and Gonâve Island (Ouest) – Partial assessment The area of Grande-Saline was flooded, and the road is currently blocked. The city is cut off from the rest of the commune. The Civil Protection reports a lack of food and therefore households are feeding themselves with the small portion of food remained after the disaster. Nearby communes and village markets can supply the rice, beans and oil, which are missing in the local market. There is no water supply in the commune and methods of purification of water are insufficient. Flood drainage and water treatment are also needed. The two municipalities of Gonâve Island have been significantly damaged by the hurricane. It is estimated that approximately 30 to 60 percent of the gardens and agricultural plots were affected. Significant livestock losses have been reported, especially near Anse-à-Galets. Fishing gear has also been damaged. Market supply by boat from the coast resumed after the disaster; however the decrease in local production could have an impact and lead to rising prices. Finally, water systems and health facilities suffered important damage. Note: The communes that were assessed are those considered the most affected or that WFP was requested to assess by the authorities or by its partners. Other areas of the country may have been affected as well. A household food security assessment will be launched in November, followed by acute IPC workshops that will be held in late November or early December. Aknowledgements: This initial assessment was conducted with the support of the technical secretaries of the observatories of the CNSA, colleagues from FAO, DDA (Agricultural Department) officials, mayors, departmental officials of the DPC (Civil Protection Direction) and WFP partner organizations: ACF, ADEMAR, Alianza por la Solidaridad, AMURT, AVSI, APPIP, CARE, Cooperation Switzerland, CROSE CRS, FONDEPH, MAST, Médecins du Monde, MINUSTAH, ODRG, OXFAM, RODANIP, Save the Children, Solidarités International, UNEP, UNPOL, World Vision. We express our gratitude to them. This report was written by the WFP/VAM team in Haiti and reviewed by the VAM team in Panama (Byron Ponce Segura) and Rome (Anne-Claire Mouilliez, Eleonora Ponti). Contacts : WFP Country Director: Carlos Veloso Kokou Amouzou, kokou.amouzou@wfp.org, +509 3701 2368 Félix-Antoine Véronneau, felix.veronneau@wfp.org, +509 4896 0105 FAO Representative: Nathanael Hishamunda nathanael.Hishamunda@fao.org CNSA Director: Abnel Desamours abneldes@gmail.com, +509 3464 4234