Providing hot meals to displaced families in Haiti amid escalating violence
© World Central Kitchen
Providing hot meals to displaced families in Haiti amid escalating violence
In early 2025, Haiti was plunged deeper into crisis as gang violence intensified across the country. Armed groups seized control of an estimated 85% of Port-au-Prince, forcing violence to spread into other regions, including the Centre and Artibonite departments. As a result, more than 1.3 million people were displaced, many fleeing their homes with little more than what they could carry.
In the Artibonite department, the town of Verrettes became a refuge for families escaping violence in nearby areas such as Petite Rivière. An estimated 12,000 displaced people sought shelter in schools and public buildings, often living in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions with limited access to food, clean water, and healthcare.
A growing hunger crisis
The displacement crisis has compounded an already dire food security situation. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report released in April 2025, more than half of Haiti’s population, approximately 5.7 million people, is facing high levels of acute food insecurity, driven by relentless violence and economic collapse. Among them are 2.85 million children, representing one quarter of the country’s child population.
Disrupted supply chains, insecurity on roads, and the breakdown of civil order have made it increasingly difficult for families to access food. For many displaced Haitians, a reliable meal has become a daily uncertainty.
Delivering nourishment where it’s needed most
In response, Myriad Canada has been collaborating with World Central Kitchen (WCK), an nonprofit organization founded in 2010 by chef José Andrés, that is first to the frontlines, providing fresh meals in response to crises. The project aimed to provide hot, freshly prepared meals to internally displaced families in the Verrettes region, ensuring immediate nourishment for those most affected by the ongoing violence.
Through this initiative, WCK delivered life-sustaining support to families living in precarious conditions, offering not just food, but dignity and a sense of normalcy and community during an emergency.
 © World Central Kitchen |
 © World Central Kitchen |
 © World Central Kitchen |
The impact of the Canadian support
Thanks to the generosity of Canadian donors, the project achieved meaningful, measurable results:
- 306,618 hot meals were distributed across more than a dozen locations serving displaced families.
- Meals were freshly prepared and culturally appropriate, including:
- Fried chicken with rice, beans, and fried plantains
- Okra stew with meat
- Fried fish in sauce with white rice and bean purée
- Through its long-term presence in Haiti, World Central Kitchen was able to reduce the cost per meal from USD $2.50 to $2.00, allowing more meals to reach more people.
- Ingredients were sourced from local farmers, butchers, and distributors, helping stimulate the local economy and support vendors who have struggled to access markets due to insecurity.
- Over 400 people were employed, including many women and existing food vendors, to support kitchen operations and food distribution.
Stepping in when others could not
Despite the severity of the crisis, Haiti’s humanitarian emergency has received limited media coverage and philanthropic attention, leaving many response efforts critically underfunded. Canadian donors stepped in to help fill this gap, enabling a rapid and impactful response at a moment of urgent need.