Worsening food insecurity in Colombia, Honduras and Haiti

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have determined that acute food insecurity will worsen from February to May 2022 in three countries in Latin America and the Caribbean: Colombia, Honduras, and Haiti.

COLOMBIA

The Hunger Outbreaks report released Thursday warns that hunger will increase in Colombia, including among Venezuelan migrants. This is due to political instability, the effects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the regional migration crisis, and internal displacement.

According to the 2022 Humanitarian Needs Study, 7.3 million Colombians will require food assistance this year. As of July 2021, 1.1 million Venezuelan migrants were in a situation of food insecurity, although this has improved slightly.

The text also highlights that the number of Venezuelan migrants has increased, reaching 1.8 million in Colombia last August, and assumes that this number could grow. This group is joined by people in transit from South America and the Caribbean to the continent’s north.

On the political front, the document points to delays in implementing the 2016 peace agreement between the government and non-state armed groups, leading to violence and new mass displacements that could increase due to social unrest and possible economic turmoil during the ongoing electoral process campaigns.

It notes that the pandemic has exacerbated inequality and points out that high inflation will continue to affect the purchasing power of low-income families.

FAO and WFP note that humanitarian access in Colombia is severely limited and is expected to worsen in conflict-affected areas.

To address the problem, the report recommends measures such as cash transfers and food assistance for both Venezuelan migrants and host communities, the distribution of agricultural inputs, and the establishment of rapid food production areas, veterinary care, feed production support, and livelihood assistance.

HONDURAS

Low cumulative rainfall in 2021 due to below-average rainfall in October and November 2021 and the pandemic-related crisis are the two main reasons for worsening food insecurity in the coming months in Honduras, especially in the country’s dry corridor, where the poorest families will need humanitarian assistance.

Although corn production would decline by only 3% compared to the average of the last five years, the expected 60% decline in sorghum production would impact agricultural livelihoods.

In addition, the World Bank reported that 32% of the labor force lost or quit their jobs due to the pandemic-related disruptions.

At the political level, gridlock in Congress and widespread distrust in public institutions would challenge the new government and hinder its poverty reduction measures.

UN agencies recommend expanding the scope and quality of national school feeding programs, providing emergency assistance to the most vulnerable to restore livelihoods and produce food, boosting local markets, and extending the duration of food aid and cash transfers.

HAITI

The economic crisis, a series of crop failures, socio-political instability, and gang-related crime would exacerbate Haiti’s already alarming hunger situation, particularly in the country’s southern departments.

According to UN figures, some 4.3 million people needed emergency food assistance at the beginning of February 2022. The outlook for 4.6 million Haitians under these conditions would worsen from March to June.

The devaluation of the Haitian currency and the increase in fuel and commodity prices will further weaken the purchasing power of families, whose basic food basket costs 40% more than a year ago due to the increase in the price of imported products such as vegetables, oil, cornflour, and wheat.

In addition, insecurity and political instability will remain high in the coming months, making it difficult for humanitarian organizations to access and work.

Below-average harvests are also expected due to the lack of rainfall in the last two maize growing seasons.

FAO and WFP recommend distributing food and cash transfers and agricultural and livestock inputs to the neediest families and restoring agricultural infrastructure in earthquake-affected communities, including seed storage, water collection, and irrigation systems.