Tag: Americas

UN rights chief reports on intensified ‘climate of oppression’ in Nicaragua — Global Issues

Addressing the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Mr. Türk reported that the number of people arbitrarily detained – either for expressing their political views, or for being perceived as critics of the Government – rose from 195 in September to 225 today. 

“This includes relatives of detained political opponents, allegedly to coerce the latter into surrendering,” he said. 

Precarious detention conditions 

These persons – 26 women and 199 men – are being held in precarious conditions, something which his predecessor, Michelle Bachelet, had noted. 

Those detained in the infamous El Chipote prison continue to suffer inhuman conditions, with limited access to medical care, balanced diets, or regular family contact. 

Mr. Türk also highlighted other developments of concern.   

Civil society clampdown 

He said more than 3,000 national and international non-governmental organizations have been shut down, almost half since September alone.  

As a result, countless people are now without access to important services or assistance. 

The authorities have also closed 29 local and international media outlets, effectively muzzling the press.  

Additionally, a new law adopted in October requires registration and government authorization for the production, filming and exhibition of any audio-visual material. 

“Human rights defenders, journalists, clergy or those perceived to be political opponents, are arrested, harassed, intimidated,” said Mr. Türk. 

“Some are prosecuted for the offences of conspiracy to undermine national integrity or for ‘false news’. All part of a systematised effort to stifle opposition and dissent.” 

Election-related arrests 

The lead up to, and holding of, municipal elections in November “had the trappings of an exercise in autocracy,” he said.   

The months prior to the voting were marked by “a wave of arrests and dismissals of political opponents.” 

Political parties that had their legal status revoked last year were also excluded from participating.  

“Reportedly, election day was ripe with intimidation, with checkpoints set up around the polling stations to track voters. People perceived as political opponents were denied access to the polling stations,” Mr. Türk told the Council. 

“After the elections, riot police reportedly repressed supporters of the indigenous political party YATAMA, who claimed having won in the municipality of Waspam, in the Northern Caribbean Coast. We were told that at least 19 people, mostly young indigenous people, were arrested and detained for several days.” 

Asylum and isolation 

Meanwhile, the crisis continues to ripple beyond the country’s borders.   

Between January and October of this year, Costa Rica received 70,000 new asylum applications from Nicaraguans, while more than 147,000 citizens showed up at the  United States border. 

Nicaragua also continues to isolate itself from the international community. 

The country has failed to engage with several UN human rights bodies and has not cooperated with the Inter-American system of human rights. 

Engagement and commitment 

Addressing the situation will require concerted engagement and commitment at national, regional and international levels, grounded in international human rights standards, said Mr. Türk. 

He urged the authorities to immediately release all persons who have been arbitrarily detained. 

The High Commissioner also appealed for those who have been excluded from the political and social spheres, to be allowed to participate freely again in public life. 

Mr. Türk emphasized that the fundamental freedoms of expression, association and assembly, must be respected. 

“My Office is ready to work with the authorities in these areas, and I request access to the country for my staff,” he said. 

The UN rights chief added that it is important for the international community to ensure sustained backing for Nicaragua’s civil society organisations, many of which continue to operate from exile. 

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Healing Haiti in the face of an increase in sexual violence — Global Issues

Claudine* looks across a sweeping valley high above the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince. The lushness of the tropical vegetation, the cool fresh air and the low-hanging clouds are in stark contrast to the dusty, hot and suffocating backstreets of Petionville, lower down the valley, where four years ago she was the victim of sexual abuse which changed her life.

“At the time, I was 16 years old and living with my cousin and her husband,” she said. “I looked after their children, like they were my own.” Claudine should have been at school but after her mother and grandmother died had no other option but to become a domestic worker in her cousin’s house. It was there that she was sexually assaulted by her cousin’s husband.

“I didn’t know what to do but a friend did report the incident to the police, but nothing was done to find the man.”

A refuge from abuse

A year after her daughter was born, Claudine was taken to a refuge for abused minors, many of whom like her were caring for newborns. The refuge, where she has lived now for three years, is run by Rapha House, an organization which is committed to ending the trafficking and sexual exploitation of children.

Nahomy Augustin is a project coordinator for the international NGO in Haiti. “Many of the young women here are the victims of extreme poverty and insecurity, to the extent that the lack of basic services and opportunities that they have access to means that they become vulnerable to abuse,” she said.

The refuge, which is located in an intentionally inconspicuous building, in a tranquil neighbourhood above Port-au-Prince, supports the young women in the recovery from their traumatic experiences. “We take a holistic approach,” said Nahomy Augustin, “and provide a range of services, including medical and psychological care, accommodation and legal advice as well as family mediation.”

The aim is to help each young woman to return to her family within a year as long as it is safe, but many like Claudine stay longer. The refuge can currently accommodate 24 young women as well as their babies, but a new centre is being built which can provide care to up to 80 people.

The Spotlight Initiative, in partnership with the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, is supporting this and other refuges for women in Haiti.

Rape as a weapon

Geraldine Alferis is a gender-based violence expert at UNICEF. “Haiti, and especially the capital Port-au-Prince, is experiencing a surge in gang violence. Thousands of girls and women are being displaced, which makes them very vulnerable to abuse,” she said.  

In July, the United Nations said that rival gangs in the Cite Soleil neighbourhood of Port-au-Prince were adopting the “systematic use of rape against women and girls as a weapon of war.”

“Gang rape is a particularly tragic occurrence and so we work to ensure that the survivors get the help they need,” said Geraldine Alferis.

The Spotlight Initiative in Haiti focuses on ending domestic violence, rape, incest, sexual harassment, physical and psychological violence, as well as other restrictions on the freedoms and rights of women and girls. It also aims to provide holistic care to women and girls who are survivors of violence.

On a visit to the refuge, the UN Resident Coordinator in Haiti, Ulrika Richardson, said “it was chilling to hear the stories of these young women and girls,” adding that “I also sensed hope and recognized the importance of the services to which they have access.”

“I am proud of the Spotlight Initiative and the much-needed assistance it is providing along with our local partners, but what I heard on this visit is a stark reminder of the urgency to tackle the root causes of sexual violence.”

At the refuge above Port-au-Prince, the survivors like Claudine are able to study, taking school classes that many missed out on when they were younger. They can also take practical classes to learn skills like sewing or soap-making, which can enable them to make a small amount of money, a first important step towards building their independence.

“Going to school is very important,” said Claudine. “If you are working for a family like I did, it is not enough just to receive food and have a bed. You must be given the opportunity to study and make a life for yourself.”  

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UNICEF seeks $27.5 million to step up cholera response in Haiti — Global Issues

The outbreak began two months ago and is unfolding amid economic crisis and rising insecurity due to gang violence. 

Ninety per cent of confirmed cases have been in areas with a high burden of severe acute malnutrition.

A ‘triple threat’

Children suffering from the condition, which is also known as severe wasting, are more vulnerable to cholera and at least three times more at risk of dying from it.

“In Haiti right now, there is a triple threat to children’s lives –malnutrition, cholera and armed violence. And sometimes all three together,” said Manuel Fontaine, Director of UNICEF’s Office of Emergency Programmes, who has concluded a four-day visit to the country. 

Mr. Fontaine saw how malnourished children are receiving life-saving care at UNICEF-supported cholera treatments in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and in the Cité Soleil neighbourhood there.

“I was shocked to see many children at risk of dying in the cholera treatment centres. In just a few hours, acute watery diarrhoea and vomiting dehydrate and weaken them so much they may die without timely and adequate treatment. Cholera and malnutrition are a lethal combination, one leading to the other,” he said.

The senior official also went to a centre which provides medical, psychological, and psychosocial care to survivors of gender-based violence.

© UNICEF/Laurent Duvillier

Manuel Fontaine, UNICEF Director of the Office of Emergency Programmes, visits the UNICEF-supported GHESKIO health centre in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Breaking a ‘vicious cycle’

As of Monday, there were 924 confirmed cholera cases in Haiti, more than 10,600 suspected cases, and 188 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

Mr. Fontaine was adamant that the “vicious cycle” between malnutrition and cholera can be broken.

“Simple, affordable and effective treatment can save Haitian children’s lives, as long as we reach the most vulnerable families before it’s too late,” he said.

“But the urban-poor areas most affected by the cholera outbreak are also under the control of heavily armed gangs. Amid widespread armed violence and insecurity in large parts of the capital, humanitarian teams are walking on eggshells.” 

Nutritional screenings and support

UNICEF is seeking the funding to ramp up its cholera response over the next five months.

The $27.5 million will be used to provide humanitarian assistance in the areas of health, water, hygiene and sanitation, as well as nutrition and protection, for 1.4 million people

Since July, the UN agency and partners have screened and assessed the nutritional status of nearly 6,200 children in Cité Soleil, the largest urban-poor area in the capital.

Overall, around 2,500 under-fives suffering from severe and moderate acute malnutrition received quality treatment.

UNICEF, in coordination with the national authorities and partners, have delivered items to health departments, such as 245 cholera kits, 313,000 oral rehydration salts sachets, zinc, antibiotics, and personal protective equipment (PPE).

Other assistance has included providing 135,000 water purifying tablets to a partner hospital in Cité Soleil.  

Additionally, more than 468,000 litres of water were distributed to 22,290 people currently living in, or displaced from, the neighbourhood.
 

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Saving lives and preventing the spread of cholera in Haiti — Global Issues

A community health worker in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, has been describing how she is going door-to-door to raise awareness about cholera prevention.

A community health worker in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, has been describing how she is going door-to-door to raise awareness about cholera prevention.

The deadly but treatable disease has been spreading across the country and according to the latest Government figures published on 16 November there have been some 8,100 people admitted to hospital and over 170 deaths.

Esterline Dumezil was trained by the Ministry of Public Health and Population and by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO).

“I have been working in the commune of Cité Soleil in Port-au-Prince since 2014, so for eight years The situation has deteriorated over time which means life is very difficult for the people who live here. They talk to me about their health concerns, but they also worry about the economic and security situation. They are very fearful about the return of cholera.

My job is to walk and raise awareness in the neighborhood. I provide a lot of public health-related information and now that cholera has resurfaced, I go from door to door visiting families at home. I educate people on the importance of using treated water for drinking, cooking at home, handwashing and other measures they can take to prevent the disease from spreading further.

Local people have many questions, they also want to tell me about their concerns and problems. I provide reassurance by reminding them that cholera is not a fatal disease and is treatable. If the basic rules of hygiene are observed, then one can fight the disease.

When I find a person suffering from diarrhoea, no matter how severe, I refer them to one of two hospitals in the community which have been equipped to receive cholera patients; I know they will be well taken care of.

It is very important for me to count suspected cases as well as note the information that local people share with me. I pass on this information to my superiors at the Ministry of Health, which helps our epidemiologists to better understand how people are affected by cholera, all over the country.

Helping the most vulnerable

We are still on the ground, despite the difficulty of the current situation in the country. Community health workers are not idle, we are trained to help the most vulnerable people. It is a duty, and it’s a source of pride for me to be part of this effort.

Personally, I like to think that each person can contribute to improving life in our communities. That’s why I decided to become a community health worker, because I enjoy helping people and being part of change. It’s also a really important job which can save lives.

Meeting people and helping them is what gives me most happy in this job. I enjoy going to their houses and I feel comfortable in the neighbourhood, despite the insecurity caused by gangs, as people know and trust me.

I have never regretted dedicating my life to this job. I enjoy going to meet people in their homes and that’s when I am happiest.”

The UN’s cholera response for Haiti:

A range of UN agencies including, IOM, UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNICEF and WFP as well as the UN Humanitarian Air Service, UNHAS are also supporting the UN’s cholera response.

The community health workers, who are known by the French acronym as ASCPs, play a central role in the Ministry of Health’s PAHO/WHO-supported Community Health Strategy. With intimate knowledge of and access to the communities they serve, they have been at the forefront of an integrated response to cholera especially in hard-to-access areas such as Cite Soleil. So far 300 have been trained and deployed on the ground to conduct risk communications and community engagement activities.

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Peru’s food crisis grows amid soaring prices and poverty: FAO — Global Issues

Some 16.6 million people – more than half the population — now find themselves without regular access to enough safe and nutritious food.

It’s a shocking reversal for Peru, an upper middle-income country according to the World Bank, that can grow all the food it needs.

According to a 2021 FAO study, 51 per cent of the population is living in moderate food insecurity. “20 per cent of that group is in acute food insecurity”, explains Fernando Castro Verastegui, Project coordinator at FAO Peru. “That means people have reduced the quality of their diet or are eating less than they need.”

Poor alternatives

Poverty is to blame, says the agency. The poverty rate this year is 25 per cent, meaning one in four Peruvians doesn’t have enough money to cover their basic food basket.

Most people end up simply alleviating their hunger, but not eating adequate food with all the necessary nutrients, such as proteins. In parts of the Peruvian Amazon rainforest – known locally as the “Selva” region – up to 70 per cent of the population is anaemic. 

Recipe for resilience

In the poor and dusty suburb of Chorrillos, one of Lima’s shanty towns overlooking the Pacific Ocean, women are busy behind the stove.

Among them, Jenny Rojas Chumbe, a community activist, president of the soup kitchen “Ayuda Social” (or “social support”).

When COVID-19 hit the country, sending millions home with no income, Jenny saw up close the urgent needs in her community and started collecting food to organize soup kitchens.

These “ollas comunes” – as they are known locally – receive donations from food banks as well as other organizations and individuals. From 220 daily meals at the peak of the pandemic, she is still serving about 100 a day today, even though many have gone back to work.

“The number of meals we were giving had dropped to 50 a day, because the neighbours were doing better in terms of purchasing power. But lately, it’s been rising, because the crisis is affecting a lot of people. If you take the vegetables, they are far too expensive. A kilogramme of potatoes costs more than three Soles ($0.80), a litre of cooking oil, more than 12 Soles ($3.15),” Jenny explains.

Price spike

Soaring potato prices have a real impact – and a powerful symbolic one in Peru:  it is on the shores of Lake Titicaca, that potatoes were first cultivated.

As for meat, chicken is the main source of protein in Peru, but only for those who can afford it. As a matter of fact, Jenny only cooks chicken for her neighbours, “once, or twice a week, because it would be out of our budget”.

Peru’s annual inflation rate for 2022 remains above eight per cent in the past months, its highest level in 24 years. Staples like wheat, rice, and cooking oil have more than doubled in price.

The soup kitchens were the people’s response to the food problem that had been going on since before COVID, explains Fernando Castro Verastegui. “We had rates of, for example, malnutrition and anaemia that had stagnated. The economic, political, and environmental problems that we were already having were telling us that the food situation was at risk. When COVID came, this exploded.”

Coronavirus effect

Peru was indeed hit badly by COVID-19. It suffered the world’s highest mortality rate during the pandemic, as more than 0.65 percent of the population succumbed to the virus. In parallel, lockdowns increased unemployment.

Weight of inflation

Added to the post-COVID downturn, inflation, driven by the war in Ukraine, weighs heavily on prospects for recovery. Peru is also experiencing the increase in prices, says Castro, as a result of a series of phenomena that are taking place at a global level, especially the increase in fuel prices and supplies, also as a result of the conflicts in Ukraine.

In addition to the price hikes of food and energy, FAO points out that government mismanagement, poor dietary habits, and an over-reliance on imported food staples and fertilizers are additional causes of Peru’s food crisis.

Imported chemical fertilizers cost up to four times what they did a year ago, forcing farmers to reduce their use. The fear is that this will likely impact food production in the coming months and aggravate existing vulnerabilities in Peru.

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Humanitarians launch Haiti appeal to ease spiralling cholera-fuelled crisis — Global Issues

After more than three years without a reported case in Haiti, national authorities on 2 October reported two new confirmed cases of vibrio cholerae in the metropolitan area of the capital Port-au-Prince.

As of Monday this week, the Ministry of Public Health and Population reported 8,708 suspected cases, with 802 confirmed, and 161 deaths across the country.

Preventable and treatable

“Cholera is a preventable and treatable disease, and based on their experience and expertise, national institutions quickly put together a response strategy with the determined support of the entire local and international humanitarian community,” said UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Ulrika Richardson.

“However, the surge in cases in recent weeks and the rapid spread of cholera in the country is worrying.”

500,000 at risk

According to PAHO/WHO, 500,000 people are at risk of contracting the disease.

The cholera crisis has hit already vulnerable populations hardest. The latest food security analysis for Haiti shows that 4.7 million people, nearly half the population, are experiencing high levels of food insecurity, with 19,200 people living in an official disaster situation, the first time this has happened in recent history.

Haitians are also facing increased violence due to the activities of armed gangs. These gangs use sexual violence as a weapon to terrorise the population and to gain control over territory.

Nearly 100,000 people have been displaced since June 2021 after fleeing violence.

Gang rule

The main roads linking the capital to the rest of the country are under the control or influence of gangs, which has limited or even deprived citizens of access to basic services for many months.

In this context, humanitarians are dependent on costly alternative means of transport to continue providing assistance throughout the country, which includes the battle to bring cholera under control.

The UN and partners are calling for funding to help Government-led effort to provide more clean water, hygiene and sanitation, and health activities, while addressing urgent food security, nutrition, and protection needs.

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Young Haitians bond over sports, earrings and pineapple jam — Global Issues

Some 1500 young people got together at the Semans Lapè (Seeds of Peace) project event supported by the UN Peacebuilding Fund.

Rosemonde* (23 years old)

“I live in Cite Soleil which is under the control of gangs. There is only one road out of my neighbourhood, and it is often flooded or full of trash, so it’s difficult to participate in outside activities.

My mother is not at home right now and I am the eldest of six children, so I do what I can to take care of my family. I’m not comfortable where I live.

“I make crafts, like earrings. When I join activities at these big gatherings, I can talk to people, I can live and act normally. I come here to enjoy life.

I wish my neighbourhood was like this, I wish it was peaceful.”

Samentha (22)

“I am an entrepreneur. I produce jam and peanut butter and other products at my home in Saint Martin. I learnt this on a training course. I would like to sell from local shops, but to do that I need more investment. So, for now I’m selling from my house.

Young people in Haiti want to move forward but it’s difficult to get help, especially when there is no functioning social support system

Young people are very stressed, so I think it’s good to bring them together for activities like this, as it can help them to see that they are not so different from people living in different neighbourhoods.

The situation has been deteriorating for several months, but despite that I think I can inspire other young people to progress. I believe in myself a lot. I am a leader for my family.”

Evens (19)

Young people including my three sisters who have finished school, spend most of their time sitting at home with nothing to do. These activities, which include training courses, are important as they help us to move forward. Of course, it is good to spend time with other youth.

I love playing sports. Even when I was little, I was strong and competitive and that encourages me still today to do my best.

My dream for other young people is for them to see their lives the same way I see my life. This means that they focus more on their work, on what they need to learn. I always encourage them to try hard.

One of my dreams is that, when I finish school, I want to travel, to discover other countries, but now it is not possible.”

Joseph (21)

“Life in Haiti is very difficult now, because of insecurity, political instability and the crisis due to the lack of petrol. According to my grandfather, life was not like this before. It is becoming more difficult year after year.

An activity like this is very important, as it helps youth to socialize and see their true value. The country needs more recreational activities.

The Semans Lapè project provided me with training and now I am an entrepreneur. I am also a student. I was already selling chocolate before the project, but now I have taken my business to a new level and the products are more beautiful and better presented. My business is called Happy Choco. I see myself as an entrepreneur and so school is important to me.

Mirlande (19)

“The situation at home in Cite Lumière is so difficult. There is violence obviously, but also, when it rains the flooding is very bad. Life was never easy, but it has never been this bad. It’s difficult for my friends to visit me.

Many people judge us because we come from this part of the city. Everyone can have a good life. Most of the people who are subjected to violence are innocent.

This activity allows us to have small talk, to get news. It is really important. I love dancing and our neighbourhood put on a show here. I think that it would be better if these activities could take place more often.

My dream is to go to university to become an accountant and continue to dance at a professional level. But it’s hard and we don’t have the means to continue with our schooling. This is the problem we can say that most young people here have. Many of us have talent and intelligence, but we cannot exploit it to our advantage.

Today’s activity can change everyone’s attitude about young people who come from disadvantaged neighborhoods.”

FACT BOX:

The Semans Lapè project is financed by the UN Peacebuilding Fund and implemented by Concern Worldwide, in collaboration with national NGOs Lakou Lapè and Sakala.

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A UN Resident Coordinator Blog — Global Issues

“I visited several cholera treatment centres in the most affected neighbourhoods of Port-au-Prince and saw heart-breaking scenes; children who were so malnourished, it was difficult to insert a drip into their arms or legs; adults who were clearly very ill.

What immediately struck me was the intense smell of chlorine disinfectant, which is used to sterilize the immediate environment, clearly a sign that the facility is well run by health professionals who know how to prevent and treat the disease. I saw staff continually scrubbing the floor and surfaces to ensure that the cholera bacteria could not spread further.

UNOCHA/Christian Cricboom

Ulrika Richardson (centre), the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti visits a cholera treatment centre in Port-au-Prince.

I was deeply impressed and moved by the commitment and dedication of health workers. I met many inspirational people who have embodied this professionalism, and who have also demonstrated humanity and huge empathy with patients under treatment. Many have told me that Haitians are coming together to get through this difficult time.

Sharp increase in cases

Up until a few days ago, the increase of cholera cases had been gradual but now we are seeing a worryingly sharp increase, so the situation has become more challenging.

It is important to remember that although cholera can be deadly, it is preventable and treatable. Speed is of the essence, to contain an outbreak and save lives. I believe the public health response from the Haitian authorities, local and international NGOs, with the support of the UN, was immediate and decisive, despite shortages of clean water, and the fuel needed to provide power to health facilities and enable staff to get to work.

Cholera treatment centres were quickly established to care for the sick. Haitian people have lived through cholera before, so there is knowhow and experience that is extremely valuable if we are to prevent the outbreak from getting out of hand.

The inability of people to move around freely, especially in the capital Port-au-Prince, because of the prevailing security situation and lack of fuel, may also have played a part in containing the spread, although this insecurity has also complicated the cholera response.

Haitian-led response

© PAHO

PAHO staff train community health workers on cholera identification and prevention.

From day one of the outbreak, the UN in Haiti, with its national and international partners, has worked alongside the Ministry of Health. The public health messages from the Ministry of Health, on radio and via text messages, which the UN supported, have underlined the importance of preventative measures like handwashing and disinfecting.

The UN’s Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has supported our partners to open 13 cholera treatment centres. Oral rehydration points are also being established, particularly in hard-to-reach communities, to treat milder cases and refer others to in-patient facilities, while assistance has been provided to train 300 community health workers. These workers are crucial, as so many communities are isolated due to armed gang violence.

UNICEF and the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) are supporting the Haitian authorities and partner organizations with chlorine, water- purifying tablets, hygiene kits and medical supplies such as oral rehydration salts. UNICEF, through its partners is also deploying mobile health clinics in Cité Soleil, the capital’s most affected neighbourhood.

The humanitarian situation in Haiti is desperate for many and cholera is just one pressing challenge. Increased hunger faced by too many Haitians is another great concern that needs to be addressed. The World Food Programme has resumed its distribution of food inside Cité Soleil, reaching over 5500 vulnerable people since mid-October.

Coordinator and troubleshooter

As the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti, my role is to facilitate the UN’s response in a way to maximise our impact and ensure all our knowledge and expertise effectively supports the Ministry of Health’s cholera prevention and treatment strategy.

This means making linkages, whether here in Haiti with national entities or with different areas of the UN, so that our combined effort is greater than the sum of its parts.

In fact, I have been impressed not only by the quick mobilization of agencies and colleagues on the ground but also by the attention and action of the most senior leaders across the United Nations.

A can-do attitude is essential; when there are bottlenecks, for example a lack of fuel for treatment centres, I am called to help troubleshoot the problem.

Ultimately, our shared goal is to work towards a cholera-free Haiti and since the latest outbreak, I have witnessed first-hand the UN’s commitment to the people of Haiti.

Since its creation, the United Nations and Haiti have shared a strong bond. Now is once again the time for the UN and Haitians to come together to tackle this crisis so that Haiti and its people emerge stronger and more unified as the country continues on the path towards stability, equality and prosperity.

  • The UN Resident Coordinator
  • The UN Resident Coordinator, sometimes called the RC, is the highest-ranking representative of the UN development system at the country level.
  • In this occasional series, UN News is inviting RCs to blog on issues important to the United Nations and the country where they serve.
  • Learn more about the work of the UN in Haiti.

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‘Catastrophic’ hunger recorded in Haiti recorded for first time, UN warns — Global Issues

Hunger has reached a catastrophic level – the highest level 5, on the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification index, or IPC) – in the capital’s Cité Soleil neighbourhood.

According to the latest IPC analysis, a record 4.7 million people are currently facing acute hunger (IPC 3 and above), including 1.8 million people in Emergency phase (IPC 4) and, for the first time ever in Haiti, 19,000 people are in Catastrophe phase, phase 5.

Currently, 65 percent of Cité Soleil’s population, especially the poorest and most vulnerable, are in high levels of food insecurity with 5 percent of them in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

Increased violence, with armed groups vying for control of the vast and now lawless area of Port-au-Prince, has meant that residents have lost access to their work, markets and health and nutrition services. Many have been forced to flee or just hide indoors.

Rural insecurity

Food security has also continued to deteriorate in rural areas, with several going from Crisis to Emergency levels.

Harvest losses due to below average rainfall and the 2021 earthquake that devastated parts of the Grand´Anse, Nippes and Sud departments, are among the other devastating factors, beyond the political and economic crisis.

“WFP stands with the people of Haiti – serving the vulnerable and helping the poorest. We are here to ensure schoolchildren get a nutritious meal each day, families meet their basic food needs and communities are empowered,” said Jean-Martin Bauer, WFP Country Director in Haiti.

‘Time of tumult’

“This is a time of tumult in Haiti. But there is a way forward. We all need to be steadfast and focus on delivering urgent humanitarian assistance and supporting long-term development.”

“We need to help Haitians produce better, more nutritious food to safeguard their livelihoods and their futures, especially in the context of a worsening food crisis,” said José Luis Fernández Filgueiras, FAO Representative in Haiti. “Resource mobilization efforts must be scaled up in order to strengthen the resilience of households targeted by emergency food assistance to increase their self-reliance.”

For years, natural hazards and political turmoil have taken a toll on Haitians who were already in need in both rural and urban areas. The onset of the global food crisis, with rising food and fuel prices, has led to growing civil unrest that has plunged Haiti into chaos, completely paralyzing economic activities and transport.

The basic food basket is out of reach for many Haitians. Inflation stands at a staggering 33 percent and the cost of petrol has doubled.

UNDP Haiti/Borja Lopetegui Gonzalez

Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital.

Delivering solutions

Despite the volatile security situation in the capital, Port-au-Prince, WFP provided more than 100,000 people with emergency assistance in the metropolitan area in 2022. WFP’s focus remains on strengthening national social protection and food systems that are central to the country’s recovery efforts and long-term development.

Over the next six months, WFP requires US$ 105 million for crisis response and to tackle root causes and bolster the resilience of Haitian.

FAO has been providing emergency livelihoods support to small-scale vulnerable farming households. During the autumn agricultural season starting this month, FAO aims to reach close to 70,000 people with cash for work, food crop production assistance, goat and poultry breeding assistance, and food storage and processing support for school feeding programmes. FAO urgently requires some $33 million to assist more than 470,000 of the most vulnerable people.

While the agencies continue operating in Haiti as the security situation allows, increased insecurity, violence and lack of fuel are hampering humanitarian operations which are critical for the most vulnerable Haitians.

Cholera, near ‘death sentence’

And, nearly 100,000 children under the age of five who are already suffering from severe acute malnutrition -also known as severe wasting – are especially vulnerable to the ongoing cholera outbreak affecting Haiti, UNICEF has warned.

At a time when much of the country is facing growing food insecurity, acutely malnourished children have weakened immune systems and they are at least three times more likely to die if they contract cholera, further reinforcing the need for urgent action to contain the disease.

Since cholera was first reported on 2 October 2022, there have been 357 suspected cases with more than half of these in children under 14.

© UNICEF/Jonathan Crickx

People queue to receive hygiene kits in Les Cayes, southwest of Haiti.

Children aged between one and four years are at the greatest risk.

“The crisis in Haiti is increasingly a children’s crisis,” said Bruno Maes, UNICEF Representative in Haiti. “One in three of those suffering from cholera is under the age of five.

“For children who are already weak from a lack of nutritious food, catching cholera, and suffering the effects, including diarrhoea and vomiting, is close to a death sentence. They must be identified and treated urgently, and concrete measures must be taken to prevent new cholera cases in the communities.”

In Cité Soleil, where the first cholera case was reported, up to 8,000 under-fives are at risk of dying of concurrent malnutrition, wasting in this case, and cholera unless urgent action is taken to contain this threat.

Health system decimated

The health system has been brought to its knees in Haiti following the gang blockade of the country’s principal fuel terminal.

Around three-quarters of major hospitals across the country, which rely on diesel generators for electricity, report being unable to provide regular services. Fuel shortages also mean there are now only three ambulances functioning in Port-au-Prince – with close to none running across the rest of the country.

Vulnerable populations, including pregnant women and girls, are the most impacted by restricted access to health services.

UNFPA, the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency, estimates that close to 30,000 pregnant women are at risk of being unable to access essential healthcare, and almost 10,000 could experience life-threatening – if not fatal – obstetric complications without skilled medical assistance. Around 7,000 survivors of sexual violence could be left without medical and psychosocial support by the end of the year.

Aid for displaced

“Despite the extremely challenging security situation and fuel shortages, UNFPA and our partners are operating mobile clinics frequently in internally displaced persons sites around Port-au-Prince,” said Saïdou Kaboré, UNFPA Representative in Haiti.

“Our trained community workers are doing all they can to ensure that women and girls, especially pregnant women and survivors of violence, can access services and support that are critical to their health and survival.”

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Venezuelan refugees and migrants struggle to survive in Latin America and the Caribbean — Global Issues

Some 4.3 million face challenges accessing food, housing, and stable jobs, according to the Refugee and Migrant Needs Analysis (RMNA) analysis, conducted by the UN’s refugee agency, UNHCR, and its migration agency, IOM.

They co-lead the Regional Inter-Agency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela (R4V), and the report is based on collaboration with more than 190 partners.

Eager to contribute

“Venezuelans are eager to share their skills and knowledge and contribute to the communities that have generously welcomed them. Many have already been doing so.” said Eduardo Stein, Joint Special Representative of UNHCR and IOM for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela.

“But they won’t be able to continue if they are not given an opportunity to integrate effectively.”

More than 7.1 million refugees and migrants from Venezuela are scattered around the world, according to latest data. The majority, over 80 per cent, live in 17 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Hunger and ‘survival sex’

Despite progress achieved through various regularization and documentation initiatives in the region, the report showed increased humanitarian needs underline the urgent need for enhanced protection, access to services, and job opportunities.

Half of all Venezuelan refugees and migrants cannot afford three meals a day and lack access to safe and dignified housing. Many are resorting to “survival sex”, begging or indebtedness, just to be able to eat or to avoid living on the streets.  

Extremely low salaries also make it difficult to support themselves and their families, the report said. A staggering 86 per cent of Venezuelans in Ecuador do not have sufficient income to meet their basic needs, while 13 per cent of their counterparts in Chile live below the poverty line.

Learning difficulties

Even though schools are now back in session, many Venezuelan migrant and refugee children face multiple barriers to accessing education, mainly due to the lack of enrollment slots or space.

Nearly 30 per cent of refugees in Colombia aged six to 17 years, are not going to school because their parents cannot afford the fees and materials. The situation is similar in the Caribbean islands of Aruba and Curaçao, where parents are hampered by the cost of mandatory insurance, transportation and school materials.

The study further revealed that some Venezuelans, who lack documentation, livelihoods and prospects for integration, are moving elsewhere to find a better future. Many are taking extremely dangerous irregular routes, putting their lives in danger.

© UNHCR/Jaime Giménez

A Venezuelan family who walked for a month to reach Ecuador, are now staying in an emergency shelter in Cuenca that is supported by UNHCR.

International support needed

“As the world faces numerous humanitarian crises, Venezuelans and their host communities must not be forgotten,” said Mr. Stein.

While commending the governments that have opened their borders, he stressed the need for greater action.

“Host countries have shown continued leadership in responding to the crisis through establishing regularization initiatives and facilitating access to health, education and other social services,” he said.

“Regularization, however, is only a first step to integration and needs to be followed by policies that allow refugees and migrants to be self-reliant. International support is urgently required.” 

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