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Haiti Food Security Emergency Tool

Country

Haiti

Region

Global

Programme Summary

In the aftermath of the January 12 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) developed a web-based information tool to aggregate and disseminate food security information. The information and communication technology (ICT)-centred effort is designed to guide international agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working to address extreme food price volatility and food shortages in Haiti, post-disaster. The project is based on the Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS) Workstation funded by the European Commission under the EC-FAO Food Security for Decision Making Programme.

Communication Strategies

The Haiti Food Security Emergency Tool aggregates data from a variety of authoritative sources and presents this information in an interactive map form. Subjects covered include usable roads, crop calendars, land use, livelihood zones, and damage information.

Development Issues

Food Security.

Key Points

Prices for some food commodities sharply increased in Haiti following the devastating earthquake, which destroyed the country's main port, roads, and other agricultural assets. The cost of local maize and black beans, the main commodities produced in Haiti, has risen by around 30-35% (compared to average December prices). Together with food assistance, shelter, water, and sanitation, the immediate priority is to keep up domestic food production and farm incomes by supporting farmers for the upcoming planting season in March 2010, which accounts for 60% of annual food production. Around 60% of the food eaten in Haiti is imported, making the country highly vulnerable to external price shocks. For example, imported rice prices have risen by 20-30%.

Partners

FAO

Contact

Maarten Roest
Media Relations (Rome)

Viale delle Terme di Caracalla

Rome
00153
Italy
Tel: 39 06 570 56524 OR 39 346 50 10 574

Source

"Web-based Information Tool for Food Security for Haiti", FAO News Release, February 15 2010.


Placed on the Communication Initiative site February 20 2010
Last Updated February 20 2010



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