Report on the food and nutrition situation in Haiti

Abstract

The Republic of Haiti occupies one-third of the island of Hispaniola, located between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. The island is located in the hurricane belt and is exposed to severe storms from June to October. Total area of the country is 27 750 square km, with land boundaries of 275 km with the Dominican Republic. Arable land and permanent crops cover about 40 per cent of total land area, with 18 per cent of permanent pastures and the rest being mountains (63 per cent). Irrigated area is about 70 000 hectares, only 2 per cent of total land. Climate is considered tropical, but Haiti's geographical position and hilly relief determine a high variability of ecosystems, from dry and semiarid areas in the north-west with less than 1000 mm of rain per year to very humid mountains in the south and centre with about 2000 mm of rain per year. More than 20 years of internal conflicts and political instability have devastated Haiti's economy and inflicted severe hardship to the population. The recent political crisis started at the beginning of 2004 with an unresolved dispute over May 2000 legislative elections. In February 2004, growing civil unrest followed by an armed rebellion culminated with the President Aristide resigning and leaving the country. At the aftermath of the conflict, a transitional government was formed to lead the country to regional, parliamentary, and presidential elections, which are scheduled for 2005. The immediate tasks of the government are to restore security, rehabilitate government infrastructure damaged during the conflict and to stabilize the economy. ; Text in English and French