Haitians face record hunger as gang violence grips country in throes of economic crisis

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — More than half of Haiti’s population is expected to experience severe hunger through June, and another 8,400 people living in makeshift shelters are projected to starve, according to a new report released this week.

Relentless gang violence and an ongoing economic collapse is to blame, according to an analysis from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a multi-partner UN initiative that analyses food insecurity and malnutrition around the world.

It noted that the number of those facing severe hunger increased by more than 300,000 people to some 5.7 million since last year.

Among those going hungry is Jackie Jean-Jacques, his wife and their three sons, who lost their home to gang violence and have lived in a crowded makeshift shelter for more than a year.

“There are days where the kids have to live on sugar water and bread,” he said. “It hurts me to see that.”

Jean-Jacques, 52, used to work as a bus driver but could no longer afford to rent the bus or buy gasoline. Besides, he worries that one day gangs would open fire on his public transportation vehicle like they have on others.

Meanwhile, his wife sells small items like plastic cups and lunch boxes on the street.

“This is not enough to feed us,” he said.

While food and potable water were commonly distributed at shelters, aid began to dwindle after the administration of US President Donald Trump in late February decided to terminate 90% of USAID foreign aid contracts.

“Since March 2025, funding ha s no longer been guaranteed,” according to the report issued Monday.

It said that from August 2024 to February 2025, nearly 977,000 Haitians received humanitarian food aid monthly, although rations have been reduced by up to half.

“The assistance you get is not enough,” Jean-Jacques said.

UNICEF said Thursday that an estimated 2.85 million children — one quarter of Haiti’s entire child population — “are facing consistently high levels of food insecurity.”

The agency warned that it faces a 70% funding shortfall. It said it has helped more than 4,600 children this year with severe acute malnutrition, which represents only 4% of the estimated 129,000 children expected to need life-saving treatment this year.

Meanwhile, the UN’s World Food Program said it urgently needs $53.7 million to “continue its life-saving operations in Haiti over the next six months.”

“Right now, we’re fighting to just hold the line on hunger,” Wanja Kaaria, WFP’s country director in Haiti, said in a statement Thursday.

Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.