Marie Snouth Juste, a farmer in Boen, Haiti. Read her story here: https://cwsglobal.org//rebuilding-homes-and-supporting-strong-women-in-haiti/
One-third of the population of Haiti – more than one million households – is food insecure. The nation faces a serious drought as the result of El Nino, which has been aggravated by the results of climate change. As I mentioned in my International Women’s Day blog, it is an understatement to say that farmers have been hard hit by this drought: in 2015 alone farmers lost up to 80 percent of their produce and much of their livestock. Food prices have gone up for everyone, which deals a devastating blow to those already living in poverty.
Haiti has been able to feed itself in the past. We must accomplish this again.
There are critical food needs happening now in Haiti, and we must continue the discussion of how the nation can better prepare for a food secure future in the shadow of severe deforestation, drought and climate change.
To that end, CWS and our ACT Alliance partner Christian Aid have submitted a report called “Climate Change and the Right to Food” to the United Nations for Haiti’s Universal Periodic Review on Human Rights. Among other pieces, this report contains recommendations for meeting both immediate and looming food security needs. Read the full report here.
Jasmine Huggins is the Senior Policy and Advocacy Officer – Haiti at CWS.