Haiti hikes fuel prices 29‑37% amid food crisis
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- Haiti's government announced a 37% diesel price increase and a 29% gasoline price increase on April 2.
- Erwan Rumen, deputy country director for the UN World Food Program in Haiti, warned that the price hikes could wipe out humanitarian efforts and that about 200,000 people moved from emergency to acute food insecurity.
- Mary’s Meals reported that fuel price spikes and gang violence forced its BND school‑feeding program to use boats and longer routes, raising costs while serving 196,000 children.
- Alexandre Joseph, a 35‑year‑old factory worker, said he now walks two hours to work because he can’t afford public transport, and he plans to sell soft drinks at night to supplement his income.
- Fedline Jean‑Pierre, a market vendor, noted that rising fuel costs are driving up food prices and that she may have to increase her own prices to survive.
- Marc Jean‑Louis, a tap‑tap driver, reported that passengers are bartering fares and called on the government to reduce fuel prices so “everyone can breathe.”
- Mercy Corps program manager Allen Joseph warned that the oil price surge will force families to make “impossible tradeoffs,” affecting access to basic services like water.
Why it matters: The fuel price hike hurts Haitian workers, vendors, and children who rely on subsidized meals, while the government and NGOs face mounting pressure to fund transport and food aid. As transport costs double, food prices rise, deepening acute insecurity for nearly half the population.
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