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STORY: UN / HAITI FOOD SECURITY CRISIS
TRT: 1:56
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 27 MARCH 2023, NEW YORK CITY / RECENT
RECENT – NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior, United Nations
27 MARCH 2023, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, speakers, press room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Martin Bauer, Country Director in Haiti, World Food Programme (WFP):
“Haiti is slowly sliding into a hunger emergency. Last week, we released new numbers. These numbers show that 5 million people in Haiti are facing acute hunger. I’d like to put these numbers into perspective; these numbers have tripled since Hurricane Matthew in 2016, the number of food-insecure people in Haiti has tripled. It's half of the population. And these are, simply put, some of the worst food security conditions on record for Haiti.”
4. Med shot, journalists, press room
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Martin Bauer, Country Director in Haiti, World Food Programme (WFP):
“A band-aid, an emergency band-aid won't be enough. We need to address the root causes. That includes strengthening the capacity of agriculture in this country.”
6. Wide shot, speakers, press room
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Martin Bauer, Country Director in Haiti, World Food Programme (WFP):
“Haiti can't wait. We can't wait for the situation here to get more difficult before the international community reacts and comes with all the help that's needed. There's a humanitarian gap in the response in Haiti so far. There's been a lot of talk about supporting the political process in Haiti about improving security in the country. And all those are important, but they won't be viable unless there's a robust humanitarian response."
8. Wide shot, speakers, press room
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Martin Bauer, Country Director in Haiti, World Food Programme (WFP):
“I remind you that 50 percent - half the population in Haiti – is in food insecurity. And if the population is hungry, that will weaken any effort to stabilize the country. I wonder, how bad things need to get in order for actions to happen?”
8. Wide shot, speakers, press room
Briefing reporters today (27 Mar) on the current food security crisis in Haiti, World Food Programme (WFP)'s Country Director, Jean-Martin Bauer, wondered “how bad things need to get in order for actions to happen?”
According to Bauer, Haiti is slowly sliding into a hunger emergency.
According to the new Integrated Food Security Phase Classification analysis, half the population is now struggling to access food.
Findings reveal a substantial increase in the number of severely hungry people in Haiti, tripling since 2016.
According to the World Bank, eight out of ten Haitians are currently spending less on meals, and the country is among the top ten most affected by food price inflation.
Farmers have been forced to reduce areas sown due to the high cost of seeds and fertilizers at a time when the spread of armed groups has plagued rural areas with violence.
The multiple emergencies are significantly impacting the health and nutrition of Haitian children with limited access to nutritious food.
Malnourishment compromises their immunity, making them vulnerable to diseases like cholera and causing other lifelong health issues, including poor cognitive development.
Sustained humanitarian aid has managed to support the most vulnerable communities in Cité Soleil, an area of the capital city of Port-au-Prince.
However, WFP operations are underfunded and compromised and require $125 million over the next six months.
The agency’s focus remains on strengthening national social protection and food systems critical to Haiti’s recovery efforts and development.
While it is certain that life-saving assistance is an urgent need, building long-term resilience for the people of Haiti needs to be a top priority.
Bauer said, “A band-aid, an emergency band-aid, won't be enough. We need to address the root causes. That includes strengthening the capacity of agriculture in this country.”
He also said, “Haiti can't wait. We can't wait for the situation here to get more difficult before the international community reacts and comes with all the help that's needed. There's a humanitarian gap in the response in Haiti so far. There's been a lot of talk about supporting the political process in Haiti about improving security in the country. And all those are important, but they won't be viable unless there's a robust humanitarian response. “
He concluded, “if the population is hungry, that will weaken any effort to stabilize the country.”
