Sign in Subscribe
Food supply

Haiti's Prolonged Crisis Drives Hunger and Malnutrition

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that Haiti's prolonged crisis is driving rising hunger and malnutrition, with a record 5.7 million people, or 51% of the total population, currently experiencing acute levels of hunger. This is a three percent increase from last year, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis. Malnutrition rates have doubled in two years from 7% to 14% of children under five, with some areas recording even higher rates.

Key Takeaways:

  • The WFP has ramped up its response to reach a record 2.2 million Haitians this year, but needs continue to outpace resources, with over 5.9 million people potentially facing acute food insecurity or worse by March 2026.
  • Armed violence, economic decline, persistent inflation, and poor agricultural output are driving Haiti's worsening crisis, with malnutrition rates reaching Critical (Phase 4) levels or higher in the North-West and West departments.
  • An estimated 1.3 million Haitians displaced by armed violence are among the most food insecure, with three in four people sheltering in schools and public buildings facing Crisis (IPC 3) or Emergency (IPC 4) levels of hunger.
  • Collective humanitarian efforts have shown effectiveness in preventing famine, with intensified food assistance lifting about 8,400 displaced people from Catastrophic (IPC 5) to Emergency (IPC 4) levels of hunger.
  • Regular food assistance has reduced the number of Haitians facing Emergency-level food insecurity (IPC 4) by approximately 200,000 since April 2025.

Statistics:

  • 5.7 million people (51% of the total population) are currently experiencing acute levels of hunger, a three percent increase from last year.
  • Malnutrition rates have doubled in two years, from 7% to 14% of children under five.
  • 1.3 million Haitians displaced by armed violence are among the most food insecure.
  • Overcrowded and unsanitary conditions are putting babies and young children at heightened risk of malnutrition.
  • Intensified food assistance has lifted about 8,400 displaced people from Catastrophic (IPC 5) to Emergency (IPC 4) levels of hunger.
  • Regular food assistance has reduced the number of Haitians facing Emergency-level food insecurity (IPC 4) by approximately 200,000 since April 2025.

Sources:

  • World Food Programme (WFP) press release
  • Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis

Read more