(2021) Haiti: Humanitarian Response Plan 2021-2022 (FAO Chapter)

Objectives The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is working with partners in the Food Security Cluster to: • Improve the food security of vulnerable households by protecting their agriculture-based livelihoods and by strengthening their resilience to future shocks. • Enhance coordination among local, national and international humanitarian partners in priority areas. Activities Increase availability of and access to food for the most vulnerable households agricultural inputs | good agricultural practices | urban and peri‑urban agriculture benefiting women’s associations | rehabilitate agricultural infrastructure | farmer field schools | technical support for the sustainable management of microwatersheds | Village Savings and Loans Associations | animal health | small‑scale livestock production| cash transfers | cash for work | productive assets | fish production and conservation © FAO Reduce the impact of natural disasters and of COVID-19, and enhance coordination anticipatory action | strengthen the capacities of governance structures and communities | assessments and evaluations | training of leaders and local authorities on containment measures | hygiene kits | response strategy | dissemination of information | monitoring of prices, markets and food security situation | food security analysis © FAO Civil unrest and economic instability in Haiti combined with recurring shocks linked to natural disasters (droughts, earthquakes, floods and hurricanes) and the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have led to increased food insecurity and other humanitarian needs throughout the country. Haiti Humanitarian Response Plan 2021–2022 to assist 675 000 people FAO requires USD 45 million period January–December 2021 Livelihoods are rural populations’ best defense against hunger and malnutrition. Protecting them means enabling crisis-affected populations to quickly start producing their own food and generating income. FAO in the 2021 humanitarian appeals | Haiti Situation analysis Projected acute food insecurity situation (March–June 2021) 4.4 million people projected Atla ntic O cea n Nord-Ouest to be in high acute food insecurity Nord Nord-Est 11% increase of the price of imported foodstuffs such as rice and L’Artibonite flour, remaining 50% above the Centre five-year average Ouest Ca rib b ea n Sea Gran d’Anse Ouest Nippes Sud D O MI NI CA N R EP UBLI C 50-80% crop losses in the Nippes, Ouest, Sud-Est and Sud Sud-Est departments due to Hurricane Laura 0 15 km 60% of the rural population relies Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) 1 – Minimal 2 – Stressed Inadequate evidence 3 – Crisis 4 – Emergency 5 – Famine on agriculture for the livelihoods 10 907 confirmed COVID-19 Not included in the analysis cases, including 240 deaths Source: IPC. 2020. Haiti: Acute food insecurity analysis, August 2020–June 2021 [online]. Rome, Italy. [Cited 3 February 2021]. www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/IPC%20Haiti%20AcuteFoodSec%202020Aug2021June%20English%20 Summary.pdf Impact on food security Limited access to agricultural inputs due to the sustained increase in inflation rates and the weaker currency, as well as inundated cropland due to Hurricane Laura (August 2020) – the island’s strongest hurricane on record since 1856 – have resulted in reduced planting and production. Increased insecurity, coupled with the effects of the urgent and essential restriction measures linked to COVID-19 are also affecting agricultural activities, hampering the movements of agricultural workers and the transportation of goods, including of agricultural inputs. Overall prices of both locally produced and imported food have increased sharply in 2020. The average cost for a food basket has risen by nearly 30 percent since 2019. With limited The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on the map(s) in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers and boundaries. Dashed lines on maps represent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement. access to and availability of food, households have been forced to adopt negative coping mechanisms, such as selling their livestock, consuming seeds and deforestation, which further increases their vulnerability, especially of women, elderly people and persons with disabilities. With the ongoing political and economic challenges, the deadly impact of Hurricane Laura, the adverse effects of the pandemic and 46 percent of the Haitian population facing high acute food insecurity, there’s a real risk of a full blown food crisis with no end in 2021. Urgent agricultural assistance is required for the upcoming seasons in order for the poorest and most affected households to restore their livelihoods and meet their immediate food needs, preventing the further adoption of negative coping mechanisms. Contact FAO Representation in Haiti FAO-HT@fao.org | Port-au-Prince, Haiti FAO Office of Emergencies and Resilience OER-Director@fao.org | fao.org/emergencies Rome, Italy Some rights reserved. This work is available under a CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO licence Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations ©FAO, 2021 CB3474EN​/1/03.21 Over a decade of recurrent natural disasters in Haiti, the unprecedented socio-political crisis and the impact of COVID-19 are having detrimental effects in the country. Together with structural issues such as poverty and limited access to basic social services, this is causing high levels of food insecurity and increased humanitarian needs.