Key Message Update: Erratic rainfall and persistent insecurity compromise the spring agricultural season

Erratic rainfall and persistent insecurity compromise the spring agricultural season Key Messages Haiti - Key Message Update May - September 2026 Through September 2026, the combined effects of insecurity, economic disruptions, and difficulties accessing livelihoods will continue to drive high levels of acute food insecurity across the country. Most districts will remain in Crisis (IPC Phase 3), while a significant portion of the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area (ZMPP) will remain in Emergency (IPC Phase 4), particularly areas hosting displaced households and populations most exposed to armed violence. The resurgence of armed violence in the ZMPP, Artibonite, and Centre, along with an increase in kidnappings, continue to disrupt livelihoods, trade flows, and income-generating activities. According to the United Nations, approximately 30,000 people were displaced during the first half of May 2026 in areas north of Port-au-Prince, with more than 70 percent relocating to internally displaced persons (IDP) sites. Security constraints are limiting access to agricultural land, inputs, labor, and markets, particularly in the Ouest, Artibonite, and Centre departments. The irregular spatiotemporal rainfall distribution since the start of the spring growing season is disrupting agricultural activities in several areas, despite generally favorable seasonal rainfall totals and vegetation conditions countrywide. Alternating dry spells and episodes of concentrated heavy rainfall are hindering typical crop development. In the Nord-Ouest, flooding and landslides have particularly affected the municipalities of Saint-Louis-du-Nord, Port-de-Paix, and Anse-à-Foleur. As a result, potential crop losses could result in below-average spring harvest yields, limiting seasonal improvements in food availability and agricultural income. In addition, the anticipated return of El Niño conditions during the second half of 2026 could lead to below- average rainfall and negatively affect agricultural yields during the autumn and winter growing seasons, consistent with historical conditions and impacts associated with the El Niño phenomenon. Food prices remain elevated despite a slowdown in annual inflation, limiting improvements in the purchasing power of poor households. According to the Haitian Institute of Statistics and Informatics (IHSI), annual inflation slowed to 20.6 percent in March 2026, down from 22.1 percent in February, but food inflation remains high at 22.9 percent. In April, staple food prices remained 63 to 87 percent above five-year averages, depending on the commodity, with continued increases in locally produced maize and black beans. These high prices are driven FEWS NET is a United States Government-funded activity. The content of this report does not necessarily reflect the view of the United States Government. FEWS NET Haiti haiti@fews.net fews.net/latin-america-and-caribbean/haiti Recommended citation: FEWS NET. Haiti Key Message Update May - September 2026: Erratic rainfall and persistent insecurity compromise the spring agricultural season, 2026. Key Message Update This Key Message Update provides a high-level analysis of current acute food insecurity conditions and any changes to FEWS NET's latest projection of acute food insecurity outcomes in the specified geography. Learn more here. by transportation costs, unofficial payments imposed along road corridors, trade disruptions, and rising fuel prices. Although the minimum wage was increased on May 6, the adjustment does not offset the erosion of purchasing power caused by higher food prices and essential service costs. Tensions in the Middle East remain an inflationary risk through their potential effects on oil prices and transportation costs in Haiti. * FEWS NET classification is IPC-compatible with limited exceptions. IPC-compatible analysis follows key IPC protocols but does not necessarily reflect the consensus of national food security partners. As of IPC 3.0, the IPC no longer assesses the impact of food assistance on classification and thus no longer maps the (!). However, FEWS NET continues to produce food security maps inclusive of the (!) as well as maps compatible with IPC 3.0/3.1, which include the mapping of food security assistance bags. In rare cases, FEWS NET classification is IPC-aligned but not IPC-compatible. IPC-aligned analysis is evidence-based but some types of evidence required for IPC-compatibility were not available. Key Message Update May - September 2026 Famine Early Warning Systems Network 2