23 May 2008: Household food insecurity in Haiti has worsened over the past six months as a result of rising staple food prices. The price of rice has risen 60 percent, the price of imported flour risen 73 percent, and local maize prices have doubled over the last six months. Consequently, more than half of the Haitian population is underfed.
CERF funds are allowing the World Food Programme (WFP) to implement food ration distributions in the most affected rural and urban areas. WFP is providing food for 200,000 people for a period of two months. The rations consist of cereals, corn-soya blend, pulses, vegetable oil and salt.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is using a CERF grant to assist the most vulnerable farmers and 30,000 people affected by the food price increase crisis. FAO is purchasing and distributing gardening seeds and agricultural tools for the upcoming summer crop season. Tools adapted to clear channels for an irrigation channel are also being provided to farmers along with motor-driven pumps in order to better water crops.