Port-au-Prince, 18 December 2013. Today, the Haitian government and the humanitarian community launched the Humanitarian Action Plan (HAP) 2013, aimed at meeting critical humanitarian needs for over one million most vulnerable people.

While acknowledging the progress made in the country in recent years, the HAP 2013 identifies a number of residual humanitarian needs that must be addressed. These include growing concerns about food and nutrition insecurity, the persistence of localized outbreaks of cholera and the situation of displaced families in camps.

"Our country has made a remarkable recovery from the 2010 tragedy. Thanks to the strength and commitment of our people and the support of humanitarian partners, more than 77% of IDPs have left the camps and have started to lead a normal life. We also managed to stop the spread of cholera and minimize its impact on the lives of the population. Haiti is continuing its path towards sustainability. However, we recognize that millions of the most vulnerable people, including women and children face critical vital needs. We must address these needs,” said Rose-Anne Auguste, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office in charge of Human Rights and the Fight against Poverty.

About 2 million people are currently facing food insecurity. The lives of the most vulnerable - women, children, nursing mothers - are at risk if they are not assisted. In addition, the government and humanitarian partners are concerned that the resurgence of the cholera epidemic in remote areas could affect up to 118,000 people in 2013. 358,000 people still living in camps face deteriorating living conditions and await humanitarian assistance.

"National authorities and humanitarian actors have worked tirelessly over the past three years to help the Haitian government to meet the basic needs of the most vulnerable populations. Together, we have come a long way and have made significant progress. However, these improvements are still associated with new challenges. Drought, Tropical Storm Isaac and Hurricane Sandy have left millions of persons across the country with less food, fewer jobs and less land to work. We must help them to recover. If we do not, much of what has been achieved so far may be lost and many innocent people will suffer," said Nigel Fisher, Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti.

The HAP 2013 provides a minimum package of activities to meet these priorities. 144 million U.S. dollars are needed for the implementation of this framework for strategic initiatives to help more than one million people and especially address the problem of food insecurity.

The funding gap between humanitarian needs and donor support has continued to grow. In 2012, only 42% of the most urgent needs of funds have been taken into account. The HAP 2013 is designed to focus on the most critical needs. Costs are set to reflect the minimum that we must use to help the poor, and to complement long- term development initiatives.

“Today, we are launching this joint strategic framework for action to quickly and efficiently address the needs of the most vulnerable in 2013. We call on humanitarian partners to continue their support to Haiti and its people. A premature disengagement in terms of funding for humanitarian action in Haiti in 2013 would jeopardize the results achieved such as emergency response mechanisms already in place and exacerbate the current crisis," said Mr. Fisher.

Port-au-Prince, 18 December 2013. Today, the Haitian government and the humanitarian community launched the Humanitarian Action Plan (HAP) 2013, aimed at meeting critical humanitarian needs for over one million most vulnerable people.

While acknowledging the progress made in the country in recent years, the HAP 2013 identifies a number of residual humanitarian needs that must be addressed. These include growing concerns about food and nutrition insecurity, the persistence of localized outbreaks of cholera and the situation of displaced families in camps.

"Our country has made a remarkable recovery from the 2010 tragedy. Thanks to the strength and commitment of our people and the support of humanitarian partners, more than 77% of IDPs have left the camps and have started to lead a normal life. We also managed to stop the spread of cholera and minimize its impact on the lives of the population. Haiti is continuing its path towards sustainability. However, we recognize that millions of the most vulnerable people, including women and children face critical vital needs. We must address these needs,” said Rose-Anne Auguste, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office in charge of Human Rights and the Fight against Poverty.

About 2 million people are currently facing food insecurity. The lives of the most vulnerable - women, children, nursing mothers - are at risk if they are not assisted. In addition, the government and humanitarian partners are concerned that the resurgence of the cholera epidemic in remote areas could affect up to 118,000 people in 2013. 358,000 people still living in camps face deteriorating living conditions and await humanitarian assistance.

"National authorities and humanitarian actors have worked tirelessly over the past three years to help the Haitian government to meet the basic needs of the most vulnerable populations. Together, we have come a long way and have made significant progress. However, these improvements are still associated with new challenges. Drought, Tropical Storm Isaac and Hurricane Sandy have left millions of persons across the country with less food, fewer jobs and less land to work. We must help them to recover. If we do not, much of what has been achieved so far may be lost and many innocent people will suffer," said Nigel Fisher, Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti.

The HAP 2013 provides a minimum package of activities to meet these priorities. 144 million U.S. dollars are needed for the implementation of this framework for strategic initiatives to help more than one million people and especially address the problem of food insecurity.

The funding gap between humanitarian needs and donor support has continued to grow. In 2012, only 42% of the most urgent needs of funds have been taken into account. The HAP 2013 is designed to focus on the most critical needs. Costs are set to reflect the minimum that we must use to help the poor, and to complement long- term development initiatives.

“Today, we are launching this joint strategic framework for action to quickly and efficiently address the needs of the most vulnerable in 2013. We call on humanitarian partners to continue their support to Haiti and its people. A premature disengagement in terms of funding for humanitarian action in Haiti in 2013 would jeopardize the results achieved such as emergency response mechanisms already in place and exacerbate the current crisis," said Mr. Fisher.