(2021) Haiti - Response Overview, July 2021

Haiti Response overview July 2021 In numbers Key points • Haiti is one of the worst food crises in the world with 46 percent of 4.4 million people in high acute food insecurity (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification analysis, March–June 2021), of whom +1.1 million in Emergency • 60% of the rural population relies on agriculture for the livelihoods 103 000 returnees reported • crossing the border with the Dominican Republic in October– November 2020 (International Organization for Migration) and 18 100 people internally displaced due to clashes between rival gangs USD 44.4 million still needed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for 2021 under the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) the population projected to be in high acute food security, mainly due to reduced agricultural production caused by a long period of drought, storms and increased prices of basic foodstuffs, which are compounded by the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Tropical Storm Elsa hit the southern peninsula of Haiti on 3 July, causing strong winds and rain. Preliminary reports indicate the destruction of 60 percent of maize plantations in certain communes of Belle Anse, as well as of trees and communication power lines. This adds to the effects of previous natural disasters such as Hurricane Laura, severe drought, etc. Political unrest and a surge in violence due to clashes between rival gangs in Port-au-Prince have triggered significant population displacements, leading to a growing humanitarian crisis. A state of emergency has also been declared following the assassination of the President which created a power vacuum and further uncertainty in the country. Planned activities (July–December 2021) Improve food access and availability by restoring agricultural livelihoods cash for work (80 000 people) | cash+ agricultural assistance (325 000 people) | cash+ veterinary supplies and set up of mobile clinics (75 000 people) | income-generating activities (45 000 people in urban and rural areas) | seed producer groups to receive agricultural inputs and technical support for the production and marketing of quality seeds (30 000 people) | animal feed (75 000 people) | fishing equipment and technical support (25 000 people) | technical support and equipment for food storage and food processing to supply school feeding programmes (20 000 people) Reduce the impact of natural disasters and enhance coordination Food Security Cluster coordination | assessment on food security and agricultural production | capacity building of local civil protection committees for natural disasters | socio-economic crises risk management in collaboration with the Civil Protection Directorate | analysis and mapping of priorities in targeted areas | mobilization of partners and resources within the framework of the humanitarian-development-peace nexus and Hand-in-Hand Initiative. Response to date • Provided 7 500 people with 450 000 cassava cuttings, 750 000 sweet potato • © FAO • cuttings, 15 tonnes of lima bean seeds and 8 tonnes of maize for staple crop production. Provided 10 000 people, living in poor neighbourhoods of Port-au-Prince with 439 kg of vegetable seeds (cabbage, carrot, chili, eggplant onion, pepper, spinach and tomato). Trained 200 people (of whom 120 women), living in poor neighbourhoods of Port-au-Prince, in vegetable production and nutritional education; and 120 people (of whom 72 women) in poultry production, and conservation and marketing of eggs. Funding Projected acute food insecurity situation (May–June 2021) FUNDING GAP Nor th Atla n tic O cean USD 44.4 million 98.6% Nord-Ouest Nord Nord-Est L’Artibonite Centre Ouest Caribbean Sea Gran d’Anse Ouest Nippes Sud THE DOM INICAN R EPUB LIC 1.4% Sud-Est FUNDING TO DATE* 0 USD 600 000 15 km (FAO internal funds) Cadre Harmonisé phase classification Crisis Minimal Emergency Stressed Insufficient data Not analysed Source: IPC. 2020. Haiti: Acute food insecurity analysis, March–June 2021 [online]. Rome, Italy. [Cited 9 July 2021]. http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipc-country-analysis/details-map/en/c/1152816/?iso3=HTI Challenges facing food security and agriculture Food access and availability in Haiti is deteriorating. This is mainly due to the economic decline, which has been aggravated by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and related containment measures, as well as by reduced production from previous agricultural seasons as a result of rainfall deficits and climate shocks such as Hurricane Laura. Severe flooding in April 2021 has negatively impacted crop growth in certain areas in the Nord and Nord-Est. Furthermore, the current surge in violence in Port-au-Prince linked to clashes between armed gangs is triggering the displacement of thousands of people, including many women and girls, elderly people and people living with disabilities. The ongoing violence is hindering humanitarian access to the most vulnerable households and is limiting the movement of people and goods thus affecting households’ livelihoods activities. In response, the Government has established a Task Force to coordinate efforts to address the ongoing population displacement situation that is expected to last for some time, likely resulting in greater humanitarian needs. However, a state of emergency has just been declared following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, which plunges Haiti further into uncertainty. In this context, the levels of acute food insecurity in the country may further increase. It is critical to provide agricultural support to the most vulnerable households, restore their productive assets and diversify their sources of food and income to strengthen livelihoods resilience. *The current emergency and resilience activities are being implemented with the funds of two projects (Central Emergency Response Fund: USD 1.5 million; Spain: USD 581 045) that were approved at the end of 2020 in the framework of the 2020 HRP. FAO requires USD 45 million by December 2021 to assist 675 000 people The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map 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. 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 | @FAOemergencies 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) ©FAO, 2021 CB5697EN/1/07.21 Famine