Week 4 Blog 2

July 2, 2008 haiti101

WFP is rapidly expanding operations in Haiti, reaching more hungry people thanks to a US$23 million allocation from funds raised through the organisation’s high food price appeal.

In the months ahead, more and more people will receive food assistance – 2.3 million by the end of the year. “Our food is critical to helping people cope with high prices – a daily burden on people who were already very poor,” said WFP Regional Director Pedro Medrano.

WFP family food rations allow hope to return to households struggling to make ends meet and which buy less and less food as food prices increase. Beneficiaries receive a basket of food that will feed their family for one month.

Better access to food for the most hungry will also help stabilize Haitian society, which was rocked by fatal food riots earlier this year. The Haitian population is highly vulnerable to food price increases: Haiti imports over 50 percent of its food including rice — its staple diet; three-quarters of Haitians live on less than US$2 per day. Households spend more than half their incomes on food.

Donors to WFP operations in Haiti include: the United States (US$ 23.3 million); Canada (US$ 19.8 million), France (US$ 3.7 million), UN Central Emergency Revolving Fund –CERF (US$ 3.3 million), Switzerland (US$ 1.4 million) and several others. Overall they have provided more than US$ 62 million, which is enough to cover augmented needs for 2008. However, WFP still needs more than US$ 61 million to cover Haitian beneficiaries’ needs for 2009.

Entry Filed under: Uncategorized

2 Comments Add your own

  • 1. samanthalg  |  July 8, 2008 at 12:36 pm

    It is great that the US is giving funding. Not just the US but many other MDC’s are giving money to help these people. I do not understand how it took the international community so long to come in, but I hope to see positive results!

  • 2. sarahsorus  |  July 8, 2008 at 12:56 pm

    I am so glad to read about the aid the government is giving Haiti. My family has been long time pen pals with a Haitian boy and his limitations on food are obvious from his letters describing how hungry he is. I am so glad to read this and hope it helps greatly.


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