Structural inequality and climate shocks drive deepening food insecurity in Haiti
Original framing: “More than half of Haitians continue to face food crisis” — UN News
Haiti's food insecurity is rooted in centuries of colonial exploitation and land dispossession. Post-independence, the country was forced to pay reparations to former colonial powers, which crippled its economic development and agricultural infrastructure.
Haiti's food insecurity is a complex outcome of historical exploitation, climate vulnerability, and structural inequality.
By integrating agroecological practices, securing land rights, and centering marginalized voices, Haiti can move toward a more resilient and just food system. Learning from Indigenous and Afro-Caribbean food sovereignty models, and drawing on scientific climate adaptation strategies, offers a path forward. International actors must shift from emergency aid to long-term investment in local capacity, ensuring that food systems are not only sustainable but also culturally and ecologically aligned with Haiti’s unique context.