CARIBBEAN/HAITI: Food crisis worsening in Haiti - more than 3.8 million hungry people

Food crisis worsening in Haiti - more than 3.8 million hungry people
 
FAO proposes farming and livestock projects in support of 500 000 people
 
31 July 2003, Rome -- A 'silent' food crisis is looming in Haiti, the poorest 
country in Latin America and the Caribbean, FAO warned today. 

Living conditions of the poor have deteriorated markedly, with over 3.8 
million people suffering from hunger. The majority of the hungry lives in 
rural areas. 

"Haitians somehow manage to survive from day-to-day, leaving many observers 
questioning whether there is really a humanitarian emergency," said Anne M. 
Bauer, Director, Emergency Operations and Rehabilitation Division. "The 
indicators, however, show that there is a crisis, albeit a 'silent' one, and 
one that risks becoming deeper." 

Damaged agriculture 

Increased social and political tensions have contributed to a vicious cycle 
of marginalization and increased vulnerability, eroding social, economic, 
infrastructural and environmental assets, FAO said. 

Out of a labour force of 4.1 million only 110 000 are employed in the formal 
sector, of whom 35 000 are civil servants. 

Agriculture, the main source of income, has been damaged by drought in the 
northwest over the last four years and by floods in the northeast over the 
last season. National food production is still decreasing due to insufficient 
investment, infrastructure and access to agricultural inputs. 

Poor living conditions are exacerbated by inadequate or non-existent water 
and sanitation services. 

Over 1.2 million children are affected or infected by HIV/AIDS or other 
diseases. Around 23 percent of the children under five are suffering from 
chronic malnutrition. 

Reducing dependency on food aid 

FAO launched an appeal for $6 million to finance five key relief activities 
in Haiti. 

FAO projects will:
provide seeds and tools to 80 000 vulnerable farm families hit by drought and 
floods, so that they can resume agricultural production; 

provide poor households with chickens, pigs and goats to generate income and 
reduce malnutrition; 

improve access for 500 families to drinking water and water for vegetable 
gardening 

vaccinate 675 000 farm animals against Anthrax to reduce loss of livestock.

"These activities will benefit more than half a million Haitians. FAO aims to 
increase the communities' dignity and self-reliance in food, thereby reducing 
dependency on costly and unsustainable external food aid," Bauer said. 

FAO will soon distribute around 180 tonnes of seeds to around 60 000 people 
so that they can prepare for the next planting season which starts in 
September. 


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Contact: 
Erwin Northoff 
Information Officer, FAO 
erwin.northoff@fao.org 
(+39) 06 570 53105 

Source: FAO; 31 July 2003