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Food crisis looms in Haiti, warns FAO
United Nations, Aug 01: A `silent` food crisis is looming in Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere, with over 3.8 million people - nearly half its total - suffering from hunger, the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization has warned.
United Nations, Aug 01: A "silent" food crisis
is looming in Haiti, the poorest country in the western
hemisphere, with over 3.8 million people - nearly half its
total - suffering from hunger, the United Nations Food and
Agricultural Organization has warned.
"Haitians somehow manage to survive from day-to-day,
leaving many observers questioning whether there is really a
humanitarian emergency," Anne M Bauer, director of the FAO
emergency operations and rehabilitation division, said. "The
indicators, however, show that there is a crisis, albeit a
`silent' one, and one that risks becoming deeper."
Living conditions of the poor have deteriorated
markedly, FAO said. The majority of the hungry live in rural
areas. Increased social and political tensions have
contributed to a vicious cycle of marginalization and
increased vulnerability, eroding social, economic,
infrastructural and environmental assets.
Out of a labour force of 4.1 million only 110,000 are
employed in the formal sector, of whom 35,000 are civil
servants. Over 1.2 million children are affected or infected
by Hiv/Aids or other diseases. Around 23 per cent of the
children under five are suffering from chronic malnutrition.
Agriculture, the main source of income, has been damaged by drought in the northwest over the last four years and by floods in the northeast over the last season, FAO added. National food production is still decreasing due to insufficient investment, infrastructure and access to agricultural inputs.
Poor living conditions are exacerbated by inadequate or non-existent water and sanitation services.
Bureau Report
Agriculture, the main source of income, has been damaged by drought in the northwest over the last four years and by floods in the northeast over the last season, FAO added. National food production is still decreasing due to insufficient investment, infrastructure and access to agricultural inputs.
Poor living conditions are exacerbated by inadequate or non-existent water and sanitation services.
Bureau Report