Humanitarian Crisis Deepens in Haiti, Urgent Call for International Aid

 International Desk | PNN
A large portion of Haiti’s population is facing severe hunger as armed gangs tighten their grip and the country’s fragile economy continues to deteriorate. According to a report released Friday by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), about 5.7 million of Haiti’s 11 million people are experiencing acute food insecurity.

Currently, around 1.9 million people are in an emergency level of food crisis, marked by severe malnutrition and food shortages. Another 3.8 million are living under crisis-level food insecurity. Experts warn that by mid-2026, nearly six million people could face extreme hunger as the country enters the next agricultural season.

The government has announced plans to establish a Food and Nutrition Security Office to better coordinate relief operations. However, the situation remains highly complex, as gangs now control roughly 90% of Port-au-Prince and have recently expanded into agricultural areas.

The economic collapse is worsening the crisis. Haiti has been in recession for six consecutive years, and in July, food prices rose by 33% compared to the previous year. The crisis has had a devastating effect on children — about 680,000 have been displaced by violence, and thousands of schools have closed.

The international community has approved a new 5,550-member UN-backed multinational force to combat gang violence, but the security situation remains unstable. Experts caution that without addressing the root causes of the crisis, any improvements will be short-lived and fragile.

Gang dominance, economic turmoil, and disruption in agriculture are deepening Haiti’s humanitarian catastrophe, underscoring the urgent need for international aid and effective policy action.