Today, Secretary Antony Blinken announced that the United States, through USAID, is providing nearly $45 million in additional humanitarian assistance for people in Haiti affected by widespread criminal gang violence and the ongoing multi-dimensional crisis. This additional support brings the total U.S. humanitarian support from the people of the United States to the Haitian people this fiscal year to nearly $211 million.
More than five million Haitians are in need of humanitarian assistance and there are nearly 600,000 internally displaced persons in Haiti, as a result of a humanitarian crisis caused by ongoing political unrest, criminal gang activity and violence, economic instability, and limited access to basic services, including healthcare. Severe malnutrition and disease outbreaks are further exacerbated by the effects of climate shocks, including hurricanes and flooding.
This funding will help USAID partners provide urgently needed support to people in need across Haiti, including internally displaced persons and host communities, through in-kind and cash-based food assistance where violence has exacerbated existing food insecurity. Today’s announcement includes nearly $25 million in Commodity Credit Corporation funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that USAID is using to purchase, ship, and distribute agricultural commodities from American farmers to provide life-saving food assistance in Haiti.
The additional funding will also support UN and NGO partners providing urgently needed water, sanitation, and hygiene assistance to prevent the spread of disease and improve waste management systems, as well as programs to provide critical psychosocial and health services to survivors of gender-based violence.
The U.S. government continues to stand with the people of Haiti and calls on other donors to join us by increasing their support to communities affected by this crisis.