UN Reveals Millions in Haiti Face Acute Hunger Crisis Amid Gang Violence

The United Nations (UN) reported on Friday that millions of Haitians are experiencing severe food insecurity as armed groups tighten their grip on various regions of the country. According to the latest findings from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), approximately 5.7 million people, representing over half of Haiti’s population, are classified as facing ‘Crisis’ conditions or worse (IPC Phase 3 or above). This situation marks a significant humanitarian crisis in the Western Hemisphere.

The data reveals that 1.9 million Haitians—roughly 17 percent of the population—are suffering from Emergency-level hunger (IPC Phase 4), facing substantial food shortages, acute malnutrition, and heightened risks of mortality. An additional 3.8 million people (around 34 percent) are in Crisis conditions (IPC Phase 3), often depleting their limited resources just to survive. The IPC warns that these alarming trends could worsen by mid-2026, predicting that 5.9 million people, or 53 percent of the population, will experience acute food insecurity as the lean season approaches.

Impact of Gang Activity on Food Security

The escalating violence from armed gangs has severely disrupted critical infrastructure, including roads, farmlands, and ports. This situation has led to the displacement of over 1.3 million people, a 24 percent increase since December 2024, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Between June and July 2025, the number of displacement sites surged from 246 to 272, driven by armed assaults in the Centre department.

Recent attacks in areas such as Dessalines, Verettes, Liancourt, and Petite Rivière in the Lower Artibonite region have forced thousands into overcrowded temporary shelters lacking basic amenities like sanitation, clean water, and medical care. Reports of sexual violence, trauma, and severe hunger have become increasingly common. The right to life, health, and social welfare is now at risk due to the state’s inability to ensure food security and safety for its citizens.

Under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), which Haiti ratified in 2013, the government is obligated to protect the right to adequate food. This raises concerns about the state’s responsibility to take appropriate measures to prevent foreseeable rights violations stemming from hunger and displacement.

UN Security Council’s Response to the Crisis

On the same day as the report, the UN Security Council took action to address the escalating crisis by approving a new resolution aimed at replacing Haiti’s struggling international police mission with a more robust force. This new “gang-suppression force” will consist of 5,500 military, police, and civilian personnel, designed to reclaim control from gangs and restore democratic governance.

The new mission, drafted under a U.S.- and Panama-sponsored resolution, is authorized to operate independently of Haitian forces. It will conduct arrests and carry out “intelligence-led targeted counter-gang operations to neutralize, isolate, and deter gangs.” Additionally, the force will secure vital infrastructure, including ports, airports, and schools, during an initial 12-month mandate.

The resolution received support from twelve of the fifteen Council members, including the United States. Only Russia, China, and Pakistan abstained from the vote.

As the situation in Haiti continues to deteriorate, the combination of gang violence and food insecurity poses a significant challenge to the country’s future stability and the well-being of its citizens. The international community’s response will be crucial in addressing both immediate humanitarian needs and long-term solutions to restore order and governance.