Haiti - Emergency Food Security and Agriculture Response - FAO 2017

March 2017 – Haiti remains affected by a convergence of humanitarian crises further aggravated by a category 4 hurricane which struck the country in October 2016. Hurricane Matthew resulted in the largest humanitarian crisis in Haiti since the 2010 earthquake adding to the pre-existing humanitarian needs throughout the country notably those caused by the ongoing cholera epidemic and recent droughts related to the El Niño phenomenon. An estimated 2.7 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in 2017. This includes 1.4 million people in hurricane-affected areas which remain in need of food water and sanitation shelter and livelihood. Cholera also remains a serious threat to hundreds of thousands of households especially with the resurgence of the disease since May 2016. With GAC’s support and other donors the Food and Agriculture Organization is helping address immediate and medium-term food needs as well as reduce food insecurity and improve livelihoods of the vulnerable crisis-affected households in Haiti. Project activities include: (1) distributing seeds and tools to restore agricultural production; (2) providing cash-for-work opportunities for vulnerable women and men; (3) improving livestock and fish production through veterinary support livestock restocking and distribution of fishing equipment; and (4) strengthening local and national food security capacities.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) restored and protected livelihoods and food security of the most disaster-affected and vulnerable farmers small-scale herders and fishers; and (2) strengthened local and national actors intervening in the Food Security Sector to deal with agroclimatic shocks. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.