UN renews appeal for help for Haiti as more people go hungry and homeless

PORT-AU-PRINCE — Half of the population in Haiti is not getting enough to eat and barely a quarter of the hospitals are operating at normal levels.

And between March and June of this year, the number of internally displaced people shot up 60%, bringing the total number forced out of their homes by armed gangs to 578,000. Despite the deteriorating humanitarian situation and the consequences of Haiti’s indiscriminate violence, which is now spilling over into communities outside of Port-au-Prince, the country is struggling to attract the world’s help.

On Thursday, the United Nations relaunched a $674 million humanitarian response plan, noting that with less than five months left in the year, it remains severely underfunded. As of August 5, the plan had raised only 24% of the total. “Given the complexity and dynamic nature of the crisis, it is essential for donors to commit flexible funds, allowing partners to adjust their financing to current priorities,” the U.N. said in its new appeal that’s also seeks more flexibility with the donations in order to address rapidly growing needs.