After the looting and burning of its warehouse in Gonaïves on September 15, which contained 1,400 metric tons of food intended for the emergency program and for 100,000 children participating in the school canteen program, the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) confirms that a second of its warehouses was attacked and looted this week in the town of Les Cayes.

This warehouse contained 762 metric tons of WFP food prepositioned as part of its emergency program and in anticipation of the hurricane season. This food should make it possible, in the event of major climatic events, to meet the urgent food needs of more than 46,000 people in the south of the country. It should be noted that all WFP staff are safe and have been taken care of.

"We absolutely need the violence to stop so that food distributions can resume as quickly as possible," lamented Jean-Martin Bauer, WFP Country Director in Haiti, adding "WFP is present in Haiti to serve the Haitians. Our goal is to ensure that food reaches the most vulnerable families. Our job is to tackle the root causes of hunger, especially in rural areas. Nothing justifies looting. These people who loot, starve their neediest neighbors and leave children in their own communities with nothing to eat in schools."

Concluding "Looting is not a solution. The WFP is on the ground to serve the Haitians... no less than 46,000 people in emergency situations will suffer the consequences of this latest looting..."

HL/ HaitiLibre