In October, I visited Quebec for the first time since taking office as director of the World Food Program (WFP) in Haiti. There I met representatives of the Quebec government, Haitian diaspora groups, civil society actors, the private sector, journalists, NGOs and members of the university community. With each interaction, I was struck by the deep bond and special relationship between Quebec and Haiti, two French-speaking societies in America.
While 44% of Haitians suffer from hunger, the message I sent to Quebecers on the urgent need to find lasting solutions to the crisis in Haiti aroused sincere interest and concern.
Back in Port-au-Prince, I am now working with my team to plan our activities in 2024 and beyond. Over the next five years, WFP will further focus its efforts on providing assistance while boosting the national economy, mobilizing local farmers and strengthening the resilience of food systems to shocks such as extreme weather. . The WFP is committed to providing its aid differently, in a more sustainable way and more anchored in the capacities of the national economic and associative fabric.
However, we unfortunately face a painful reality: violence is both a driver of food insecurity and an obstacle to our ability to provide assistance. More than 80% of Port-au-Prince is currently under the control or influence of armed groups, which hampers our ability to intervene. Every month, new waves of forced displacement plunge people into total distress and destitution.
Security
This year, violence has spread to rural areas, particularly in the Artibonite department, Haiti’s veritable breadbasket. I met farmers forced to let their crops rot in the fields because the roads they use to transport their produce are blocked by armed groups. “Madan Sara” (market sellers) were kidnapped, held hostage and raped, before being released upon payment of exorbitant ransoms.
In October, the United Nations Security Council authorized the establishment of a multinational security support mission in Haiti. Its arrival is planned for next year. Canada has already provided support to the Haitian National Police and has also committed to playing a role in this new mission.
It is imperative to restore security to Haiti as soon as possible. However, if the multinational mission is not accompanied by a substantial humanitarian effort, it will be extremely difficult to restore the stability that the Haitian people deserve. The WFP has the necessary capacities to alleviate the food crisis facing the country. What is currently lacking are resources.
I call on donors to support activities linked to WFP’s emergency programme, which are only 10% funded for the next six months. This deficit is equivalent to 76.6 million US dollars. Unfortunately, WFP has already had to reduce the coverage of its programs due to lack of resources. If substantial funding is not secured by the end of December, further cuts to our programs will be inevitable in early 2024, precisely when the multinational security mission is due to be deployed.
Hunger can become the breeding ground for conflict and instability. Haiti will not know peace until half of its citizens know where their next meal is coming from. The international community must act now.