Haiti Hunger Declines Slightly to 5.83 Million

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — A new report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification indicates a modest decline in the number of Haitians facing acute hunger, but humanitarian officials warn that the crisis persists amid gang violence, economic pressures and rising global fuel costs.

The assessment, released Thursday, projects that 5.83 million people — more than half of Haiti's population — will experience high levels of food insecurity from March through June. This marks a slight decrease from the previous estimate of 5.91 million. Of those affected, nearly 1.9 million are expected to reach emergency levels of hunger, down marginally from 2 million. The report attributes the limited progress to reduced inflation, from 32 percent to 22 percent; favorable winter weather aiding crops; and improved access to some roads.

Despite these gains, the overall trend of acute food insecurity shows no reversal, according to the IPC, the primary global authority on hunger crises. Violence from armed groups continues to disrupt the economy, blocking the transport of goods and forcing vulnerable individuals to join gangs for survival. In the capital, police report that gangs now control...