Insecurity persists in Haiti as Central America sees seasonal improvements

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In Haiti, clashes between armed groups continued in September, disrupting sources of income and food in the commune of Cité Soleil, which is still facing an Emergency (IPC Phase 4) outcomes. Violence also affected pockets of households—and displaced people—in Croix-des-Bouquets, Bas de Delmas, Port-au-Prince, and the communes of Bas-Nord-Ouest (Bombardopolis, Baie de Henne, Mole Saint Nicolas). In September, conflicts in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area (Cité Soleil, Bel-Air, Solino) increased the number of people displaced across the capital and food accessibility conditions are precarious at IDP sites, leading to Emergency (IPC Phase 4) outcomes for many of these displaced households.
The rest of the country remains in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) due to below-average incomes in the context of high food and non-food commodity prices, and expected revenues from autumn agricultural activities are also likely to be below average for the country. Although rainfall is expected to be cumulatively average, the fall agricultural season is likely to produce below average harvests due to the anticipated lack of support for farmers, the insecurity that deprives some of them of their land, and the currently irregular distribution of rainfall.
In Central America, the annual lean season concluded in September with the arrival of the primera harvest. Although there was a month-long delay in the harvest because of earlier delays in the season, it has allowed households and markets to replenish food stocks, resulting in a seasonal decrease in prices. This improvement in food availability will be supported in October by increased income-generating opportunities as the cash crop harvest season begins, including the harvesting of coffee and sugar cane. This will improve food security for most poorer households in the region, which are expected to face Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes until January 2025. However, very poor rural households in the Guatemalan Dry Corridor, Western Altiplano, and Alta Verapaz department are still likely to face Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes through January, as households continue to resort to coping strategies such as reducing food portions and atypical migration of more household members in search of income-generating opportunities. The seasonal increase in demand for agricultural labor will only minimally improve food consumption in these areas, as income will be allocated to debt repayment and purchase of staple foods at high prices.
In Venezuela, despite improvements in inflation and the exchange rate in recent months, the economic crisis continues to result in widespread Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes for a large part of the population. Meanwhile, poorer households who only receive income in VED and have limited access to income in USD, remittances, and social safety net programs continue to experience Crisis (IPC Phase 3). Annual inflation in Venezuela moderated significantly from 394.8 percent to 35.5 percent between August 2023 and August 2024. Low monthly inflation and exchange rate stability have contributed to food price stability since the beginning of the year. Between July and August, monthly inflation has also stabilized, and food prices remained stable for most products, with the exception of some vegetables and meats, which registered a 5 percent increase in VED in the Caracas market,

Recommended citation: FEWS NET. Latin America and the Caribbean Key Message Update September 2024: Insecurity persists in Haiti as Central America sees seasonal improvements, 2024.

This Key Message Update provides a high-level analysis of current acute food insecurity conditions and any changes to FEWS NET's latest projection of acute food insecurity outcomes in the specified geography. Learn more here.