According to the World Food Programme, more than two-thirds of households saw their income fall and the price of food increased in seven out of ten departments. Statistics show that the number of people with lower levels of food consumption increased from 32 to 41 percent.

Hunger and life-threatening malnutrition are at record levels across the nation, especially in the capital, the United Nations Children’s Fund further said.

Nearly one in four children in Haiti suffer from chronic malnutrition, also known as stunting.

The poorest, most unsafe and congested neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince report the most worrying figures.

The spokesman for the UN Secretary General, Stéphane Dujarric, said during a briefing on Friday that “More and more parents are no longer able to provide adequate care and nutrition for their children. (…) Under the current circumstances they are also unable to take their children to health care facilities due to the violence surrounding them,” he added.

The UN announced last week the departure of its non-essential personnel, as well as the upcoming launch of an air bridge between the Dominican Republic and Haiti, although still without a start date. However, the Security Support Mission approved since October 2023 remains in doubt, while the context is critical and the funds and troops are insufficient to begin the deployment.

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