Friday, June 16, 2023, during her intervention at the United Nations, at the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on "Saving Lives: Addressing the Urgent Food Security Needs of Haiti", Mrs. Joachime Nason, Humanitarian Affairs Counsellor, Delegation of the European Union made the following statement:

Statement by Ms. Joachime Nason :

"The European Union welcomes this opportunity to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Haiti, which is one of the most complex and acute food crises worldwide. The recent activation by the UN of the humanitarian system-wide scale-up for Haiti in April of this year confirms the high level of need: Haiti is among only 5 countries in the world to have reached this level (Ukraine, Ethiopia, Somalia, Syria and Haiti).

The 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan for Haiti requires 720 million US Dollars, more than double what was required last year, but is only 20 percent funded.

As we have heard, Haiti is facing a terrible protection crisis. Gangs have strengthened their hold over Port-au-Prince, controlling or influencing 80 percent of the metropolitan area, and heavily impacted the food and nutritional status of the whole population. The link between violence and hunger is evident. Today, Haiti has one of the highest levels of food insecurity in the world, with nearly half of the population, or 4.9 million people, suffering from severe food insecurity. Only South Sudan has a higher percentage.

So, this situation requires heightened attention, and the HRP requires adequate funding.

Despite a multitude of humanitarian crises worldwide, Haiti remains high on the agenda of the European Union Humanitarian Aid department. Last year, we increased our humanitarian support from an initial 8.5 million Euros to 20.5 million Euros. And we also reacted swiftly to the cholera outbreak last October and mobilised support to address the food security crisis.

In addition, we remain present. Our Humanitarian Country Office in Port-au-Prince remains operational because we believe that our presence is crucial to appraise the humanitarian needs and to show our continued commitment towards the population in need and our humanitarian partners on the ground.

Together, we must ensure that Haiti does not become a forgotten crisis.

I thank you, Madame President. "