On October 10, 2025, a new report sounded the alarm on Haiti’s deepening hunger crisis, revealing that more than half the country’s population is now grappling with crisis levels of hunger or worse. The findings, released by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC)—the leading international authority on hunger crises—underscore the severity of a situation that’s been steadily worsening in the Caribbean nation. In response, Haiti’s government has pledged to act quickly, unveiling new initiatives aimed at bringing relief to millions in need.
According to the IPC, at least 5.7 million Haitians are currently at the crisis level of hunger, and a staggering 1.9 million are facing emergency levels. Just last year, the number stood at 5.41 million, and experts warn that the situation is only expected to deteriorate further in the coming year. The IPC report doesn’t mince words: “The growing influence of armed groups, combined with structural problems and unfavorable climatic conditions, continues to affect the food security of the Haitian population.”
Louis Gérald Gilles, a member of Haiti’s transitional presidential council, announced on Friday that the government has launched a plan to mobilize resources quickly to those most in need. “We are moving rapidly to address this crisis,” Gilles stated, highlighting the creation of a new Food and Nutrition Security Office, which will coordinate efforts and ensure that the government’s response is both effective and timely.
The hunger crisis in Haiti is not a new phenomenon, but recent developments have made the situation especially dire. Armed groups have expanded their control, now holding sway over an estimated 90% of Port-au-Prince, the capital. This stranglehold has allowed gangs to plunder communities, particularly in and around Haiti’s central agricultural region, further disrupting the country’s already fragile food supply chain.
“Farmers who have managed to carry out their agricultural activities are forced not only to negotiate access to plots of land but also to share their produce,” the IPC report explained. The implications are grim: even those who can grow food often see a significant portion of their harvest commandeered by armed groups, leaving less for their own families and for the markets.
Meanwhile, the violence has displaced a record 1.3 million people in recent years, deepening already entrenched poverty. Many of these displaced people now live in makeshift shelters and impoverished communities, where hunger is especially acute. The report identifies these areas—along with Haiti’s northwest and central regions—as the hardest hit by the crisis.
The economic backdrop is just as bleak. Around 6 million Haitians are living on less than $2.41 a day, a figure that illustrates the widespread hardship facing much of the population. Food prices have soared, with the cost of basic staples increasing by 33% in July 2025 compared to the same month last year. For many families, these rising prices are simply unaffordable, forcing them to go without meals or rely on less nutritious food.
Gangs’ control of key infrastructure has further compounded the crisis. Despite a near-normal harvest of corn, beans, rice, and tubers this year, few of these goods are making their way to Port-au-Prince. The main roads leading in and out of the capital are under gang control, effectively cutting off the city from much of the country’s food supply. As a result, even when food is available elsewhere in Haiti, it’s not reaching those who need it most in the capital.
The report also details how the violence and instability have taken a toll on small businesses. “Households that relied on small businesses have been forced to abandon their sources of income, and many people have lost their jobs due to the closure of certain businesses located in areas occupied by armed groups,” the IPC noted. The ripple effects are devastating: with fewer income opportunities, families are less able to afford food, creating a vicious cycle of poverty and hunger.
Adding to the strain are ongoing mass deportations of Haitians from the United States and the Dominican Republic. From January to September 2025 alone, more than 150,000 people have been deported back to Haiti. According to the report, “These returnees…lacked everything and put increasing pressure on already scarce resources.” The arrival of so many people in such a short period has stretched the country’s limited resources even thinner, making it even harder for aid organizations and the government to keep up with the growing need.
In the face of these daunting challenges, Haiti’s government is attempting to coordinate a comprehensive response. The newly established Food and Nutrition Security Office is tasked with ensuring that aid reaches the most vulnerable populations, particularly in makeshift shelters, impoverished neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince, and the northwest and central regions. Officials say the plan involves mobilizing resources quickly, improving coordination among aid groups, and addressing both immediate needs and longer-term structural issues.
Still, the obstacles are immense. The IPC report warns that unless there is a significant improvement in security and economic conditions, the number of Haitians facing crisis or emergency levels of hunger will likely continue to rise. International organizations have echoed these concerns, urging both the Haitian government and the global community to step up efforts to address the root causes of the crisis, including gang violence, weak infrastructure, and chronic poverty.
For many Haitians, the daily struggle to find enough food is compounded by a sense of uncertainty about the future. With gangs controlling vast swathes of the capital, farmers forced to negotiate with armed groups, and basic goods increasingly out of reach, the road to recovery looks long and difficult. Yet, government officials insist they are committed to taking action. As Louis Gérald Gilles emphasized, “We are determined to respond quickly and effectively to this crisis.”
While the government’s pledges offer a glimmer of hope, the reality on the ground remains harsh. Hunger continues to surge, and millions of Haitians remain trapped in a cycle of violence, poverty, and deprivation. The coming months will be critical in determining whether the new initiatives can make a meaningful difference—or whether the crisis will deepen further, pushing even more people to the brink.
As Haiti faces one of its most challenging periods in recent memory, the world is watching to see if promises of swift action will translate into real relief for those who need it most.