World Food Programme Fighting Hunger Worldwide

Haitians affected by Hurricane Sandy listen to instructions given by staff from WFP, the government and local NGO FOSAC. They are part of the 100,000 people targeted for food assistance and who live in areas affected by persistent drought, Tropical Storm Isaac in August and recently by Hurricane Sandy.

An estimated 1.5 million Haitians, like these two women who live in rural areas, are now food insecure as result of the impact of Hurricane Sandy and two previous severe weather events – the drought and Tropical Storm Isaac in August.

Some children came with their parents to receive their 21-day rations. The distributions were supported by community leaders, government officials and the local NGO Foundation for the Advancement of Health and Community (FOSAC, in French).

Women began to smile as soon as they received their 21-day food ration of rice, beans, vegetable oil and salt.

WFP staff, Nadege Vertus, pours salt in this woman’s bag during the distribution of food rations the families affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Some women received the food rations on behalf of their families while their husbands waited nearby to help them carry the load. Most of the affected families are subsistence farmers, living in remote areas and are highly vulnerable to natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy.

A member of the NGO FOSAC pours rice in this man’s bag. He and his family are among 100,000 people targeted for food assistance by WFP, who urgently need food.

“I lost my home during the cyclone (Hurricane Sandy),” said this woman while carrying her rations back to a shelter. WFP plans to support some 425,000 people through the distribution of food rations to 100,000 people, meeting the special nutritional needs of 100,000 pregnant and lactating women, and small children, and helping 225,000 subsistence farmers to recover their livelihoods.