World Food Programme Fighting Hunger Worldwide

On January 12, 2010, Haiti was struck by a powerful earthquake that left more than 220,000 people dead, 300,000 injured and millions displaced.

Between January and April 2010, WFP provided emergency food assistance through general food distributions to some 4 million Haitians in Port-au-Prince and earthquake-affected areas.

A year and a half after the catastrophe, WFP supports the Haitian government’s plan for recovery and development by improving access to food for the most vulnerable. School meals, nutrition and job creation initiatives are the agency’s main activities in Haiti. WFP is also contributing to agricultural rehabilitation and increasing its local purchases to boost food production in the country.

Access to sufficient quantities of nutritious food remains an issue for millions of Haitians. Food insecurity in the areas directly affected by the earthquake has dropped but levels are still higher than they were prior to the earthquake. Nationally, 3.8 million Haitians, or 38 percent of the population, is estimated to be food insecure.

Haiti is a food deficit country. It relies heavily on imported food – 50 percent of national requirements are imported. Food prices have been rising since the end of 2010. In a country where approximately half of the population lives with less than $1 a day and three quarters have less than $2 per day, this increase has led to an overall loss of purchasing power for the majority of Haitians. WFP is using its three main programmes – school meals, nutrition and cash and food for work- to alleviate the impact of rising food prices on the most vulnerable.

Over the years, natural disasters have intensified Haiti's plight. Every year between June and November, the hurricane season brings with it fears of more devastating storms.  In October 2010, as the country was still trying to recovery from January's earthquake, a cholera epidemic broke out and efforts are still underway to contain the disease.

WFP has been present in Haiti since 1969.

Despite the world’s generosity, WFP still urgently needs contributions to continue its activities in Haiti.