The United Nations World Food Programme has warned that Haiti's hunger crisis is worsening, with 6.35 million people projected to face acute food insecurity by the middle of 2027 as armed violence, displacement and extreme weather continue to undermine livelihoods.
The warning was issued on Wednesday, October 28, following a new assessment by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, an internationally recognised system used to analyse hunger and malnutrition.
The latest projections indicate that approximately 6.35 million people could experience acute food insecurity between March and June 2027.
That would represent an increase of more than half a million people compared with the same period in 2026.
Nearly two million people are projected to face Emergency-level hunger, classified as Phase 4 under the IPC system.
People in this category face severe food shortages and may be forced to adopt increasingly harmful measures to meet basic nutritional needs.
The projected figures are not a confirmed count of people already experiencing those conditions in 2027.
They represent an assessment of likely developments if current pressures continue.
According to the Associated Press, approximately 5.94 million Haitians are already experiencing acute food insecurity, highlighting the severity of the present crisis.
The deterioration comes amid continuing violence by armed groups, which have displaced families, restricted movement and disrupted agricultural production.
More than 1.5 million people have been forced from their homes, according to the World Food Programme.
Displaced households often lose access to farmland, employment and established support networks.
Many live in overcrowded settlements with inadequate sanitation and limited opportunities to obtain regular meals.
The food crisis extends beyond the capital, Port-au-Prince.
Rural communities are also experiencing increasing pressure as farmers face insecurity, damaged infrastructure and changing weather conditions.
The World Food Programme warned that El Niño is contributing to droughts and floods that reduce harvests and interfere with preparations for the next planting season.
Armed groups also restrict the movement of goods between agricultural areas and markets, making it harder for farmers to sell produce and for households to obtain food.
High food and fuel prices have compounded the difficulties.
These factors have created a crisis in which violence, poverty and environmental disruption reinforce one another.
The World Food Programme said it has supported approximately 2.6 million Haitians during 2026 through food assistance, cash transfers, school meals, social protection and programmes addressing child malnutrition.
The organisation also works with local communities on water infrastructure, rural roads and measures designed to reduce agricultural losses.
However, humanitarian needs continue to exceed available resources.
The agency says it urgently requires $78 million to sustain its operations through March.
That figure is a funding requirement, not an announcement that the money has already been secured.
The warning raises serious concerns for children, pregnant women and families repeatedly displaced by violence.
Sustained food insecurity can increase malnutrition, reduce school attendance and weaken households' ability to recover from further economic or climate-related shocks.
The crisis also presents a major challenge for humanitarian organisations seeking to deliver assistance in areas affected by armed groups.
Security restrictions can delay supplies and prevent vulnerable communities from receiving support.
The World Food Programme is urging the international community to expand emergency assistance while investing in longer-term measures that strengthen livelihoods and agricultural resilience.
The latest assessment indicates that Haiti's food crisis is not stabilising.
Without improvements in security, agricultural production, humanitarian access and funding, millions of people face the prospect of even greater hardship during 2027.
