The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has announced the launch of a program to strengthen its operations in Haiti to provide emergency agricultural assistance to meet immediate and long-term food needs to 1.2 million people with severe acute food insecurity (IPC Phases 3-4 https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-29874-icihaiti-social-food-insecurity-persists-throughout-the-country.html ), the FAO mobilizes 76 million US dollars.

To cope with the gravity of the situation, has implemented procedures allowing a coordinated and exceptional response having already enabled it to mobilize 1.5 million dollars from its own funds which will make it possible to provide agricultural assistance to 12,800 households (64,000 people) in the Nord-Est and Nippes departments.

If no action was taken to strengthen the livelihoods of these people, this figure could rise to 4.1 million from March 2020 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29849-haiti-flash-41-million-haitians-will-be-food-insecure-between-march-and-june-2020.html

"Given the severity of the situation, it is essential to respond quickly to support the efforts of the Haitian Government in improving the food security and nutrition of the communities most affected by the food crisis," said José Luis Fernández, FAO Representative in Haiti. FAO's emergency response (January-March 2020), in collaboration with the Government and many operational partners, will focus on reviving production activities during the spring agricultural season which runs from March to June considered the most important for the majority of producers, because it is suitable for all food crops, covers all the agro-climatic zones of the country and contributes to more than 50% of Haiti's agricultural production.

The support to vulnerable households within the framework of this campaign will consist in providing food and vegetable seeds as well as agricultural tools in order to strengthen production and increase food availability and accessibility. Unconditional cash transfers will also be provided by the World Food Program (WFP) in certain areas to ensure food security for families during the planting season, before harvest.

Among the activities that FAO will implement within the framework of the program are : the distribution of animals (goats and poultry) to agro-pastoralists affected by drought, the establishment of mobile veterinary clinics, the supply of equipment fishing and conservation units to facilitate marketing, as well as cash-for-work activities for the rehabilitation of agricultural infrastructure. In addition, technical support will be provided to strengthen social cohesion and the resilience of vulnerable families, in particular through the establishment of Farmer Field Schools and village savings and credit associations.

"In addition to immediate agricultural support, we support the Government of Haiti in the search for durable solutions adapted to the needs of the country in order to strengthen institutional capacities, develop agricultural sectors, better manage natural resources and strengthen the resilience of households in the face of natural hazards and food crises," said José Luis Fernández,

See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-29874-icihaiti-social-food-insecurity-persists-throughout-the-country.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29849-haiti-flash-41-million-haitians-will-be-food-insecure-between-march-and-june-2020.html

HL/ HaitiLibre