Port au Prince, 29 February 2024 (TDI): The Government of Haiti, through the Ministry of Planning and External Cooperation, along with humanitarian community launched the Humanitarian Response Plan for Haiti on the 27th of February, which would require USD 674 million to aid 3.6 million people in 2024.
The Humanitarian support for Haiti has come into enactment after serious protection crisis for millions of Haitians. The year 2023 saw the highest number of murders, lynchings and sexual assaults over a period of five years.
Because of this, 314,000 people have been displaced, with children amounting to 55 percent of the displaced population.
Accelerated crisis in Haiti.
Increased violence in Haiti has disorganized socio economic activities and the free movement of people and groups, especially in the Haitian capital of Port au Prince. Armed gangs have also increased attacks on hospitals, schools, playgrounds, markets and transportation to record levels.
The people of Haiti are also left hungry more often, whereas a high number of children are at risk of dying due to hunger. Moreover, in gang controlled neighborhoods, women and girls are victims to brutal rape. Sexual violence has grown with 55 percent over the levels found in 2022.
Ulrika Richardson, UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti reports that “too often the perpetrators go free.” Murders and kidnappings have also soared with many people forced to leave their homes and neighborhoods in the capital and the Artibonite region.
Haiti has also experienced 8,000 number of killings last year, with Richardson reporting that “It’s absolutely disastrous for so many people in Haiti.” Out of the 5.5 million people in need of assistance in Haiti, 3 million are children, according to Richardson.
Furthermore, Haiti which has a population of 11 million people, has 5.5 million people in need of help. Out of this, over 4 million are experiencing acute food insecurity, with increased malnutrition among pregnant women and children. In addition to this, 45 pc of Haitians do not have access to clean drinking water.
Moreover, 1,000 schools were not open in the month of January, which is a significant proportion for children and a generated that have experienced their schools effected. This has also impacted children who are dependent on school feeding programs as they are not receiving meals.
Support at Haiti’s disposal
The Caribbean country remains plagued by mounting violence and insecurity at the hands of armed gangs against a backdrop of political, humanitarian and socioeconomic challenges. These conditions in Haiti have exacerbated the need for a humanitarian support for the people.
United Nations
The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti appealed to the international community for help. This request has come at a time when UN has repeatedly called for the urgent deployment of a Multinational Security Support mission to assist the Haitian police reducing the number of violent gangs.
USAID
The United States Agency for International Development provides immediate assistance to displaced populations and individuals adversely affected by natural disasters, along with supporting disaster risk reduction programs.
USAID also supports a five year $50 million Resilience Food Security Activities (RFSA) in Haiti’s Sud and Nord Est departments.
Also Read: Canada supplies Haiti with $100m for Haitian Police Force
Additionally, since 2011, USAID has backed humanitarian partners including IOM and the UN World Food Program (WFP), to keep emergency stocks of food, shelter, hygiene, and other supplies in Haiti if a disaster has to ever occur.
USAID has also called upon Disaster Assistance Response Teams to Haiti in the event of a natural disaster such as Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Irma, in the wake of increasing emergency humanitarian needs.
Unmet assistance
Last year, United Nations and its partners appealed for $720 million for their operations in Haiti. However, they received only $674 million which is 34 pc of the funding.
Ulrika Richardson maintains that this years “financial envelope” is less, in spite of the needs being larger. Humanitarian support for Haiti has also tried to be more precise with their approach. “We really count on a very robust mobilization of the international community,” Ulrika reports, remaining hopeful for this year.
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