FAO calls for scaled-up investment in saving Haitian livelihoods
The Food and Agriculture Organization with the United Nations (FAO) leant its weight to the Haiti humanitarian response plan appeal at a briefing to Member States organized by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Over the past decade, the country has been hit by major natural disasters, as well as a cholera epidemic, all of which have limited its people’s access to basic social services and led to increased levels of food insecurity. FAO stated that it requires USD 76 million by December 2020 to provide immediate livelihood assistance for 1,2 million people.
“We have to put development back in the center of our work in Haiti and amplify its impact by cooperating under the umbrella of the Haitian government,” remarked Bruno Lemarquis, Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti and Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti.
Ambassador Patrick Saint-Hilaire from the Permanent Mission of Haiti to the United Nations welcomed the call for mobilization but noted that “there are no miracle solutions.” He then went on to share an outline of the Haitian government’s priorities.
The budget for the food security sector represents almost 80% of the overall appeal for Haiti. According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification analysis, if no actions are taken to strengthen the livelihoods of vulnerable populations, the food security situation is expected to further deteriorate for 4 million people during the upcoming lean season (March–June 2020).
“Rural communities are on the frontlines of these crises,” said Carla Mucavi, Director of the FAO liaison office in New York, “as they are struggling to maintain food production, access markets and meet their own food needs.” Mucavi warned that Haiti is quickly becoming a “forgotten crisis” and proposed helping locals build resilience with programmes like cash for work, which support rehabilitation through the construction of climate-proofed infrastructure.
However, not all is bleak: on February 4th Haiti celebrated one year without a case of cholera. Manuel Fontaine, Director of United Nations Children's Fund Office of Emergency Programmes, referred to this milestone as “a success achieved thanks to a rapid response system coordinated by the United Nations community.” This encouraging outcome strongly suggests that enhanced cooperation and collective action among partners can also be leveraged to restore food security and nutrition, thereby protecting the lives and livelihoods of millions in Haiti.
You can read Carla Mucavi’s full statement here.