The Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean of the **World Food Programme (WFP)**, **Lola Castro**, issued a alarming warning about the humanitarian crisis in Haiti.
Following her recent visit to the Caribbean nation, the official stated that food insecurity has reached **catastrophic levels**, placing Haiti among the five countries with the most extreme food emergency.
*”The situation in Haiti is devastating, especially because it is happening in the Western Hemisphere, where this level of hunger and violence should not exist,”* expressed **Castro** in a press conference.
## Destruction of agricultural areas and dependence on humanitarian aid
The expert detailed that many food-producing areas have been devastated by violence, leaving the local population in a condition of extreme vulnerability.
Currently, over **5.7 million Haitians**, almost **half of the country**, are facing severe food shortages, and at least 8,400 people are living in situations of critical hunger.
## Funding crisis and risk of aid reduction
The **WFP**, which has assisted **1.3 million people** so far this year, is facing a severe lack of resources, jeopardizing its ability to continue providing aid.
*”Our reserves are practically depleted, and we can only address the most urgent emergencies. If we do not receive additional funds, we will cut in half the number of children receiving school lunches, affecting nearly half a million students,”* warned **Castro**.
## Local production as a strategy to mitigate the crisis
The WFP has promoted food supply through small local producers, allowing men and women from active rural areas to contribute to the supply.
*”This measure not only helps combat food insecurity but also strengthens the local economy and enables many families to maintain their independence,”* emphasized **Castro**.
However, the regional director stressed that, unlike previous years, this time the WFP **does not have sufficient reserves** to face the hurricane season, which could further worsen the crisis.
## An urgent call for Haiti not to be forgotten
Faced with this scenario, the official urged the international community not to abandon the country.
*”We do not want to compete with other crises; we know that donors must allocate their resources, but Haiti must not be sidelined. Its population needs food, clean water, and sanitation services to prevent a major catastrophe,”* emphasized Castro.
The WFP needs 46 million dollars to assist **half of the Haitians in hunger** over the next six months, and at least **20 million** for emergencies and social protection for the most vulnerable groups.
## Gender-based violence: another growing drama
In addition to the food crisis, **Castro** exposed the difficult reality faced by women and girls in Haiti.
*”Port-au-Prince has become one of the most unsafe places on the planet for a young woman. More than 6,000 have reported episodes of gender-based violence, an unacceptable figure that requires an urgent response,”* she emphasized.
The call from the [**WFP**](https://es.wfp.org/) and its regional director aims to raise awareness of the serious multidimensional crisis affecting Haiti and mobilize resources to prevent an even greater humanitarian collapse.
