UN warns of rising hunger crisis in Haiti

Haiti has been named among six countries at the highest risk of famine or catastrophic hunger in a new report released Tuesday by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), which warns of a worsening global hunger emergency through May 2026.

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The two UN agencies identified Haiti, Sudan, Palestine, South Sudan, Mali, and Yemen as the most critical “hunger hotspots,” where millions face life-threatening food shortages driven by conflict, economic collapse, and reduced humanitarian access.

In Haiti, ongoing gang violence, political instability, and economic turmoil have crippled food production and blocked essential supply routes, leaving families trapped in neighborhoods where hunger and insecurity grow side by side. The UN report warns that some communities could reach famine or near-famine conditions if urgent action is not taken.

“Famine is not inevitable,” said Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the WFP. “We have the tools and the knowledge to prevent it, but we need the resources and the political will to act now.”

Haiti’s Food Crisis Deepens

The latest assessment builds on previous UN findings showing that nearly half of Haiti’s population — about 4.9 million people — already faces acute food insecurity, the highest level ever recorded in the country. Prolonged fuel shortages, the collapse of state institutions, and continued violence in the capital have left aid agencies struggling to deliver assistance.

FAO Director-General Dongyu Qu said that while conflict remains the single biggest driver of global hunger, Haiti’s crisis also reflects how economic shocks and climate disasters compound existing vulnerabilities.

“Conflict remains the single biggest driver of hunger,” Qu said. “But climate shocks and economic instability are compounding the crisis, leaving millions with no safety net.”

A Call for Urgent Action

The UN agencies are calling for immediate humanitarian assistance to save lives and protect livelihoods, alongside early interventions designed to prevent further deterioration. They also emphasized the need for long-term investments in resilience, including agricultural support and improved access to markets in rural areas.

Delayed action, the report warns, will cost lives—especially among children, who are most vulnerable to malnutrition and disease.

Other countries identified as “very high concern” include the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Nigeria, Somalia, Syria, and Afghanistan, while additional hotspots include Burkina Faso, Chad, Kenya, and the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh.

“The international community faces a narrowing window to act,” the report concludes. “Failure to respond will deepen hunger, destabilize regions, and lead to preventable deaths.”