The United Nations has issued a dire warning regarding Haiti’s escalating humanitarian catastrophe, revealing that nearly half the nation’s population now faces daily hunger amid rampant gang violence and mass displacement. This alarming assessment coincides with the launch of the UN’s 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, which seeks $880 million to assist 4.2 million vulnerable Haitians.
According to UN officials, the security situation has deteriorated dramatically over the past year, with internal displacement doubling to approximately 1.4 million people by September 2025—representing 12% of Haiti’s total population. Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, confirmed that widespread insecurity in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area has progressively spread to regional zones, severely crippling economic activity and restricting access to essential food supplies.
The statistics paint a grim picture: 5.7 million people currently experience daily hunger, with projections indicating this number will surge to 5.9 million during the upcoming lean season from March to June 2026. The crisis has disproportionately affected women and girls, with UN partners documenting an average of 27 new gender-based violence cases daily between January and September 2025. Shockingly, over half these cases involved sexual violence, with nearly two-thirds constituting collective rapes.
Humanitarian Coordinator for Haiti Nicole Kouassi emphasized the critical funding shortfall, noting that the 2025 appeal for $908 million remains only 23% funded with just $206 million secured. She urgently appealed for sustained international support, cautioning that without immediate intervention, Haiti’s humanitarian situation will continue its rapid deterioration.