In the presence of local authorities, civil society representatives and other key partners, Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland e.V. (ASB) officially launched a new humanitarian assistance project in the communes of Camp-Perrin and Jérémie on September 10 and 11, 2024. This emergency project aims to meet the pressing needs of local populations for food security and access to drinking water. Funded by Aktion Deutschland Hilft (ADH), the project is taking place against a backdrop of growing humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by gang violence and the massive displacement of populations fleeing acts of violence in certain districts of Port-au-Prince.

An alarming humanitarian crisis context

Food insecurity is a serious problem in Haiti, affecting almost half the population. According to the Humanitarian Response Plan for 2024, the country is facing one of the most severe food crises in the world, exacerbated by reduced rainfall, flooding and gang violence that is disrupting agriculture and commerce. Between 2022 and 2023, cases of severe acute malnutrition among children rose by 30%. Analysis by the National Food Security Coordination (CNSA) indicates that 3.3 million people in the country are currently in Phase 3 (crisis) and 1.6 million in Phase 4 (emergency) food situations. At the same time, more than 310,000 people have been displaced by violence from armed groups in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, taking refuge in provincial towns, most of them in the south. In Camp-Perrin, 4,300 displaced people are living with local families, while in Jérémie, 15,844 displaced people are living in precarious conditions with host families. This critical situation calls for urgent humanitarian aid to meet the needs of these vulnerable populations. ASB is therefore stepping in to help some of these families through the above-mentioned emergency project.

Project objectives and activities

This initial four (4) month project aims to support the most vulnerable displaced and host families in the two targeted municipalities.

The main project activities include:

1. Distribution of food vouchers: 700 displaced and host families, including pregnant and nursing women, will receive food vouchers worth 150 euros. These vouchers will enable them to purchase basic necessities such as rice, beans, vegetable oil, milk, pasta, sugar and iodized salt, in line with standards set by the World Food Program (WFP) and local authorities.
2. Access to drinking water: Mobile drinking water distribution points will be set up to supply 5,000 households in the two communes. Thanks to Sky Hydrants water purification systems, ASB plans to distribute over 500,000 liters of drinking water to around 5,000 families.
3. Food hygiene training: To reinforce long-term food security, 700 heads of household will take part in training sessions on food hygiene and cooking preparation. These sessions will cover practices such as cross-contamination prevention, food waste management, safe cooking methods and more.
4. Gender equality awareness: The project also includes gender equality training for 5,000 people. The aim is to integrate a gender approach into every stage of the project to ensure equitable distribution of resources and inclusive participation in decision-making.

Local collaboration and coordination

In implementing this project, ASB works closely with local authorities, government entities, community leaders and other stakeholders to ensure an inclusive and responsive implementation. At the launch ceremonies, the mayors of the communes, members of the CASECs and the civil protection committee welcomed the initiative, expressing their commitment to collaborate fully to ensure the project’s effectiveness. In addition, ASB intends to participate actively in cluster coordination meetings related to food security and agricultural development, in order to strengthen synergy between the various humanitarian actors on the ground.

Meeting immediate needs while preparing for the future

By adopting an approach that combines emergency humanitarian aid and local capacity-building, this project will alleviate the suffering of displaced families while strengthening their ability to meet future needs. By providing access to drinking water, distributing food vouchers and raising awareness of hygiene and gender equality issues, ASB is contributing to the resilience of the targeted communities.