Today, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield announced that the United States, through USAID, is providing $60 million in humanitarian assistance to support the Haitian people and alleviate the suffering caused by gang violence and the multi-dimensional crisis.
This funding will help USAID partners fill critical gaps in nutrition, food security, and shelter; improve water and sanitation services; provide limited market-based cash assistance to allow affected communities to purchase essential commodities, and support critical protection services for Haiti's most vulnerable, including survivors of gender-based violence.
Approximately 5.5 million people in Haiti are in need of immediate humanitarian assistance amid a complex humanitarian crisis caused by civil unrest, disease, economic instability, and insecurity due to organized criminal groups. These factors, combined with recurring shocks from natural disasters, including droughts, earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes have resulted in shortages of basic supplies and increased food insecurity throughout the country in recent years. Continued violence has also cut off access to critical healthcare, forcing the closure of several hospitals and clinics, and continues to disrupt supply chains, elevate prices for staple foods, and decrease agricultural production of farmers.
The U.S. government continues to stand with the people of Haiti. Today's funding builds on earlier commitments this year of more than $105 million, bringing the total USAID humanitarian support to the Haitian people this fiscal year to more than $165 million. We call on other donors to join us in stepping up funding to support the Haitian people.
