5.7 million people in Haiti are facing food insecurity as armed groups continue to expand their control over territories across the country, according to the latest report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) recognized internationally.

The IPC, a UN-supported index measuring hunger and malnutrition in global hotspots, found in its latest analysis that 5.7 million Haitians are experiencing a deteriorating food security situation, according to the United Nations website.

The study provides analysis for the period from September 2025 to February 2026 and forecasts for March to June of the following year.

1.9 million people, or 17% of the population, suffer from emergency levels of acute food insecurity, leaving them with food gaps, high rates of acute malnutrition, and excess mortality.

Another 3.8 million people, or 34% of the population, face crisis levels of food insecurity.

The IPC expects food security to worsen further from March to June 2026, coinciding with the lean season, a period between harvests when food supply tends to decrease and prices rise.

More than half the population – 54% – is expected to face high levels of acute food insecurity.

The situation is exacerbated by the encroachment of armed groups controlling land and the country’s economic decline, leading to mass displacement and destruction of livelihoods.

The IPC states that in areas controlled by armed groups, farmers who have managed to continue agricultural activities are not only forced to negotiate access to land but also to share their produce.

Additionally, families in gang-controlled areas that relied on small businesses have had to abandon their income sources, and many people lost jobs after business closures.

Despite humanitarian support, Haitians face overcrowding characterized by unstable living conditions and lack of sanitation facilities, according to the IPC.

This increases the likelihood of sexual violence, spread of diseases such as cholera, and psychological distress among displaced persons who already lack adequate access to safe water, food, and proper healthcare.

To alleviate the crisis, the IPC recommends emergency interventions to prevent the poorest households from resorting to harmful coping strategies and expanding existing social protection programs, among other measures.