World Food Programme Fighting Hunger Worldwide

Growing food insecurity in Haiti after Hurricane Sandy risks sparking more social tension, the United Nations Food Agency warned on Thursday, calling for food, farm and transport investment to boost the country's resilience to climate shocks.

Haitians, who know well the death and despair natural disasters can cause, suffered mightily from Hurricane Sandy. Three weeks after the hurricane’s deluge, Haiti, is facing its biggest blow to reconstruction and slipping deeper into crisis, United Nations and government officials say, with hundreds of thousands of others at risk of hunger or malnutrition.

Haitians, who know well the death and despair natural disasters can cause, suffered mightily from Hurricane Sandy. Three weeks after the hurricane’s deluge, Haiti, is facing its biggest blow to reconstruction and slipping deeper into crisis, United Nations and government officials say, with hundreds of thousands of others at risk of hunger or malnutrition. (..) Though government officials have blamed unfulfilled aid pledges, international donors blame political uncertainty for the lack of progress. (..) “Donors don’t contribute if there is no government,” said Myrta Kaulard, the country director of the United Nations World Food Program.

BOGOTA (AlertNet) - Around 1.5 million Haitians are going hungry because devastating floods caused by Hurricane Sandy washed away food crops and harvests and destroyed swathes of agricultural land, the United Nations said on Monday as it appealed for an additional $39 million to fund emergency aid programmes in Haiti.

The Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, announced today, the Government of Canada's continued support for the United Nations World Food Programme's (WFP) School Feeding Program in Haiti. "Canada is proud to support the School Feeding Program in Haiti to help prevent hunger and chronic malnutrition," declared Minister Oda. "We know the WFP's school feeding approach has a direct impact on learning capacities and academic performance, which makes this initiative all the more valuable."

The executive director to the UN World Food Program (WFP), Ertharin Cousin, confirmed the UN agency's commitment to supporting Haiti in finding a solution to their hunger and malnutrition problem, a UN spokesman told reporters here Wednesday. (..) "During her first visit to Haiti, Ms. Cousin met with President Michael Martelly," UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said at the daily news briefing. (..) "I appeal to Haiti's friends in the world to continue supporting the government of Haiti and the WFP's efforts to provide sustainable solutions to fight hunger and malnutrition targeted at the most food-insecure and vulnerable populations," said Cousin.

It's been over two years since the earthquake struck Haiti. Now, with a massive hunger crisis unfolding on multiple fronts in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, the spotlight has shifted away from this country with tremendous reconstruction needs. (..) The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is helping Haiti provide school meals. Elizabeth Jennings, a public information officer for Haiti, provides us an update in the following interview.

In 2011, the World Food Programme purchased 3.000 metric tons of rice to the farmers in Haiti. The bags are distributed to schools participating in the National School Feeding Programme (NSCP), to prepare the daily hot meals for children. (..) Knowing they have a buyer, farmers are motivated to grow more while children are motivated to go to school where they receive the nutrition they need and an education. It's a virtuous circle that is at the heart of the strategy of the government and WFP to improve food security in Haiti. (..) "It's a long-term benefit for the country," add Myrta Kaulard, WFP Representative in Haiti. "This allows to encourage agricultural production."

School meal programs, administered by the World Food Program, provide what is often a child's only daily meal. (..) The World Food Program feeds 1.1 million Haitian children a day, more than before the earthquake. Parents often send their children to school because of the meal.

Aid agencies working in Haiti need to do a better job of talking and listening to the people they are trying to help in order to boost relief efforts and dissipate tensions, experts say. (..) In response, the WFP decided that the best way to improve its food distribution and food-voucher system was to ensure people understood how it worked.