(2026-04) Food Security Outlook Update: Gas prices and insecurity worsen food access

In this April 2026 outlook update, FEWS NET expects most of the country to remain in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) from April to September 2026, with certain metropolitan communes - particularly Cité Soleil and Croix-des-Bouquets - in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) and IDPs especially affected; pockets of Emergency are also expected in Artibonite, Centre and some Nord-Ouest communes, among households highly exposed to violence, deteriorating purchasing power or rainfall irregularities and reliant on negative coping. Rising global oil prices tied to Middle East tensions forced the government to raise domestic fuel prices (29% for gasoline, 37% for diesel), lifting transport and distribution costs by more than 50% on some routes and intensifying pressure on already-high food prices - even though overall inflation declined from 25% in December 2025 to 22.1% in February 2026 (IHSI). Insecurity continues to disrupt markets and livelihoods, with ongoing gang control of road corridors raising transaction costs, disrupting trade flows and limiting access - especially for displaced and poor urban households - to markets and income in the metropolitan area, Artibonite and Centre. Agricultural performance is expected to remain below average due to constrained access to inputs (seeds, labor) and land; although a limited seasonal improvement in food availability is expected from June with the spring harvests, it will likely be insufficient to offset the combined effects of insecurity, rising production costs and weak incomes, keeping food insecurity high across the country.