Catastrophic famine threatens Haiti due to blockade by gangsters | Abroad

The WFP report shows that 4.7 million people in Haiti face acute food insecurity. Some 1.8 million people among them are in a state of emergency, Jean-Martin Bauer, WFP director in Haiti, said on Friday. Those numbers have risen in the past six months.

Bauer speaks of an increase of 200,000 people in acute food insecurity and half a million people in emergency. “That means they probably only have one meal a day and there’s no protein, fresh vegetables or other essential nutrients people need to survive.”

The famine is partly due to a blockade of an important fuel terminal by criminals. After all, a coalition of gangs has been blocking the distribution of diesel and petrol for more than a month in protest against a plan to cut fuel subsidies. Most transport has been shut down and looting and gang shootings are becoming more common. The gang violence has consequently cut off the capital from the south of the country, where the food is produced. This leads to increased food insecurity.

The report shows that “the severity and scale of food insecurity is worsening” in Haiti, which is now “facing a humanitarian disaster,” Bauer said. It is “the first time in Haiti” that the fifth level of food insecurity has been reached, he said.

Haiti has been battling political instability and criminal gangs for years and is now also ravaged by a cholera outbreak and high inflation. Riots, looting and demonstrations have taken place against Prime Minister Ariel Henry since announcing a gasoline price hike in September.

“As we address the current symptoms of the multiple crises that Haitians face – the security and fuel crisis – we also need to ensure that we invest in the long-lasting root causes, such as impunity and corruption,” said Ulrika Richardson. , the highest-ranking UN humanitarian official in Haiti.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the international community on October 9 to send troops to Haiti to support the fight against the criminal gangs. The next day, thousands of Haitians demonstrated against the government and its appeal for foreign aid to tackle the endemic uncertainty, humanitarian crisis and growing cholera epidemic.