United Nations System
Standing Committee on Nutrition

Nutrition Information in Crisis Situations - Haiti
 

NICS 6, May 2005

Several initiatives have been launched by the interim government towards political transition such as national dialogue and the election process. However, it is reported that internal divisions and lack of capacity have limited the transition process (UNSC, 05/05). The electoral calendar had planned local elections on 9 October 2005 and parliamentary and presidential elections on 13 November 2005. Voter registration began at the end of April 2005. The security situation is still highly volatile, especially in Port au Prince, including violent demonstrations, kidnappings and gang activity (UNSC, 05/05). The United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti has been reinforced and totaled 6,211 forces out of a total authorized strength of 6,700 as of beginning of May (UNSC, 05/05).

The government of Haiti has complained that international aid, pledged last July, has been slow to come so far (AFP, 19/03/05).

Below normal rainfall has been recorded, especially in Artibonite and Centre departments, which were just recovering from floods which occurred in September 2004 (FEWS, 23/02/05).

A number of nutrition surveys conducted over the last months do not show a critical situation, even in Gonaives, which was hard hit by hurricane Jeanne in September 2004 (table 15). Humanitarian aid has been deployed in the area.

Table 15 Results of surveys in Haiti, September 2004-March 2005 (ACF-F)

NICS 5, February 2005

The security situation has remained tense and volatile, especially in the area of Gonaives, which was one of the hardest hit by the hurricane in September last year (USAID, 31/12/04). The humanitarian situation seems to have improved with distributions of food aid, provision of health care and provision of safe drinking water (OCHA, 24/11/04). Needs, in terms of rehabilitation of irrigation schemes and distribution of seeds and tools, were still high (OCHA, 24/11/04).

The FAO/WFP crop and food assessment mission, conducted in October 2004, estimated the cereal production to be 9% higher than in 2003 and 6.5% above the last five-year average (FAO/WFP, 12/01/05). However, owing to insecurity and poor road conditions, transport from producing areas to main urban markets is difficult. This resulted in low maize prices in producing areas, while prices have risen in urban markets, and especially Port-au-Prince. It is estimated that 103,000 MTs of food aid are needed from July 2004 until June 2005, of which 78,000 have already been received and distributed.

A random-sampled nutrition survey, conducted in the commune of Belladère, Centre department, showed a nutrition situation that was not critical: 4.8% (3.1-7.4) of the children were acutely malnourished, including 0.8% (0.2-2.2) severely malnourished (ACF-F, 08/04). This prevalence was within the same range as malnutrition rates recorded in other areas at the same period (see NICS 4). Crude and under-five mortality rates were under control: 0.09/10,000/day and 0.75/10,000/day, respectively. On the other hand, measles vaccination coverage was low: 27.3%.

NICS 4, November 2004

Haiti has known both political and natural crises in 2004. In early 2004, an armed uprising and international political pressure led to the resignation of the president Jean-Bertrand Aristide. This was followed by the deployment of a UN peace-keeping force, the MINUHSTAH and by the appointment of an interim government until the elections scheduled in 2005. However, the situation is volatile. Only two-thirds of the peace-keeping forces have yet been deployed and no disarmament of illegal armed groups has been initiated. The transitional government has failed to establish its authority in most of the provinces, which are controlled by former military, and supporters of the former president control most of the poor neighbourhoods of Port-au Prince (ICG, 18/11/04). Violence and insecurity are on the rise (OCHA, 17/11/04), which hampers the proper delivery of aid, especially in the hurricane affected areas of Artibonite and North West departments.

The total number of people affected by the mid-September hurricane is estimated at 298,926 and Gonaive has been particularly affected (see map) (OCHA, 10/04). Food distribution was ongoing in Gonaive from the onset of the floods until mid-October. It was then replaced by targeted food distributions (WFP, 19/11/04). It is estimated that 80% of the irrigation system has been destroyed in the area (OCHA, 17/11/04). The floods have also had a significant impact on the fishing sector with a loss of assets such as hoop nets, fishing nets and boats. Moreover, people were reluctant to eat fish and the price of fish was very low. The salt marshes have also been badly affected with most of them being over-flooded (ACF-F, 10/04).

Tropical storm Jeanne, Haiti (OCHA, 09/04)

Random-sampled nutrition surveys conducted before the hurricane, in Anse Rouge (Artibonite department) and Saint Louis du Nord (North West department), showed an acceptable nutrition situation (ACF-F, 04/04; ACF-F, 05/04). The prevalence of acute malnutrition was 5.4% (3.6-8.0), including 0.2% (0.0-1.4) severe acute malnutrition and 3.8% (2.3-6.1), including 0.5% (0.1-1.9) severe acute malnutrition in Anse Rouge and Saint Louis du Nord, respectively. The impact of the hurricane on the nutrition situation has not yet been documented.

Other random-sampled nutrition surveys conducted in vulnerable areas of departments which were not affected by the hurricane (South and North-East departments ) or less affected (North department) also showed acceptable nutrition situations and mortality rates (table 11).

Table 11 Results of nutrition surveys among children 6-59 months old, Haiti, June-July 2004 (ACF-F, 06-07/04)

* According to cards and mothers' statements