As Haiti is hit hard by gang violence, the World Food Program (WFP) says it has quickly expanded its food aid. WFP reaches vulnerable communities with food distributions, including hot meals for people living in temporary shelters in the capital Port-au-Prince, cash disbursements and school meals,

Since March 1st, the UN agency has provided food to more than 500,000 people across the country, 560,000 hot meals have been distributed to more than 80,000 people in Port-au-Prince and elsewhere, and 290,000 children have received hot meals in schools, where WFP prioritized locally purchased food.

WFP purchased more than 520 tons of food from local producers, worth an estimated $1 million, enough to feed more than 160,000 schoolchildren. Despite efforts to prioritize food purchases from local producers, WFP fears its food stocks could run out by the end of April.

"The capital's port must reopen immediately to transport new supplies. We also need unhindered access to food transportation across the country to ensure the continuity of our programs,", declared Jean-Martin Bauer, Country Director of WFP in Haiti adding "WFP is doing everything possible to reach the most vulnerable people, but at the current rate, we will run out of food stocks by the end april."

IH/ iciHaiti