Port-au-Prince, Haiti — A new Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report released today confirms what communities across Haiti already know: the food security situation in the country remains critical. In the last eleven months, World Central Kitchen (WCK) has served nearly 9 million meals in the country—a number that reflects the scale of the need.

The new IPC analysis shows 5.83 million people—52 percent of Haiti’s population—facing acute food insecurity, including more than 1.8 million in emergency conditions, underscoring the staggering gap between needs and available assistance.

In Haiti’s Artibonite region—one of the areas hardest hit by hunger and insecurity—WCK has served 8.9 million meals in almost a year through 26 community kitchens providing approximately 35,000 meals daily. In partnership with Hospital Albert Schweitzer (HAS), WCK operates community kitchens on the HAS campus, in displacement camps, and in surrounding communities—hiring local residents and sourcing from local farmers, butchers, and distributors to support the economy while providing a critical source of stability.

World Central Kitchen founder Chef José Andrés says:

“Haiti is where World Central Kitchen was born. Sixteen years ago, in the aftermath of the earthquake, we learned that a hot meal can bring hope in the darkest moments. Today, as hunger deepens again, we cannot turn our backs—because Haiti is not just where we started, it’s part of who we are. The milestone of 9 million meals in less than one year shows our commitment and reflects the scale of the crisis—and still, it is not enough.

“In places like Haiti, people are already living day to day, often served only small portions of rice. Even small increases in the price of food and fuel—driven in part by global disruptions such as the conflict in Iran, which is pushing up energy and fertilizer costs—translate into immediate consequences for families who are already on the brink of famine.

“The arrival of the UN Gang Suppression Force and steps toward long-delayed national elections offer a measure of stability and hope for Haitians who have already endured so much—but that hope must be matched with urgent action to ensure no one goes hungry today.”

World Central Kitchen remains unwavering in our commitment to feeding communities across Haiti’s Artibonite region. However, the operating environment remains extremely challenging. Violence across Artibonite is widespread, unpredictable, and increasingly impacting communities and humanitarian operations alike. Rising fuel costs continue to drive up the cost of delivering food, while insecurity limits access to people most in need.

Despite these obstacles, WCK’s teams have not stood down.

World Central Kitchen Response Director John Torpey says:

“Our teams show up every day with a shared purpose: to ensure everyone knows where their next plate will come from.

“For the people we serve, this work means more than a meal—it’s the promise of a hot plate each day, the dignity of providing for their families, and the confidence to plant and harvest crops without fear of waste.”

As the new IPC report highlights the scale of the crisis, WCK’s response underscores a stark reality: even millions of meals are not enough to meet the growing need. Sustained international support and funding are urgently needed to close the gap.

For more information or media enquiries, please contact:  

Roberta Alves, Director of Media Relations at ralves@worldcentralkitchen.org or +1 202.400.7483
Our full media team is reachable at press@wck.org