Overview
USAID/Haiti's Humanitarian Assistance program addresses Haiti 's vulnerability to food security and natural disasters, critical concerns as the country recovers from the particularly destructive, 2008 hurricane season. U.S. foreign assistance interests for Haiti include strengthening Haiti 's institutional capacities to respond to food insecurity as well as plan for and manage disasters. Due to erosion and environmental degradation, regularly severe flooding results in exceptional infrastructural and agricultural productivity losses. Activities focus on providing food assistance, livelihood recovery as well as GOH institutional support. Since the 2008 hurricanes struck Haiti , USAID and other USG agencies have provided approximately $33 million for disaster assistance and another $59 million in emergency food aid to respond to the food security crisis.

Activities
Assistance and Recovery: To respond steeply rising food prices and destruction from hurricanes, USAID's food assistance as well emergency response programs, implemented through World Food Program and other key partners, rose from $34 million to $113 million during 2008. This has provided vital social safety net support to more than 2 million or 20% of the poorest Haitians, particularly in hurricane-damaged areas. Program activities have consisted of 1) safety net distribution to support the most disadvantaged—the sick and disabled, elderly, orphans, mothers and children; 2) school feeding to children with take home rations to the poorest households; and 3) food for work activities to rehabilitate irrigation systems, roads and productive infrastructure, as well as reclaim eroded land. Approximately 26,500 metric tons of food has been distributed and an additional 10,000 metric tons are continuing to provide assistance.

Disaster Readiness: Work with other donors to build Haiti 's institutional capacity to manage heavy rains, flooding, winds and mudslides that devastate Haitian communities every year. Build the capacity of the local level disaster mitigation committees to gather, analyze and disseminate information to policymakers, stakeholders, and responders about potential crises. Develop the government's disaster readiness capability to address particular, vulnerability issues such as Collapsed Structure Search,Rescue training, Shelter Management.

FY 2008 Results
•  In collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the European Union (EU), USAID/OFDA assistance enabled the GOH to conduct timely damage assessments in eight of Haiti 's 10 Departments in response to 2008 storms.

•  FEWSNET with Haiti 's National Food Security Coordination Agency (CNSA) provided 60 NGO staff training on food security and vulnerability assessments, then associating program interventions to mitigate food security challenges.

•  Emergency supplies, including nets, kitchen sets, water containers and hygiene kits, have been distributed to over 60,000 storm-affected families.

•  Since 2008's hurricanes struck, in Gonaives 5,321 people have participated in cash-for-work activities generating approximately 127,704 person work days while over 90 public buildings and facilities, including 46 schools, were rehabilitated.