Scottish Charity Appeals for Support in Haiti's Escalating Hunger Crisis
A Scottish charity providing essential meals to children in Haiti has launched an urgent appeal for support, as the Caribbean nation grapples with its worst hunger crisis and rampant gang violence. Mary's Meals, which operates school feeding programmes in 16 countries worldwide, highlights that many children are being enticed into joining armed gangs simply by the promise of food, amid a backdrop of severe humanitarian distress.
Severe Hunger and Displacement in Haiti
According to data from the World Food Programme, more than half of Haiti's population—approximately 5.7 million people—is experiencing acute levels of hunger. This includes at least one million children who face daily food insecurity. The charity reports that armed conflict has intensified due to the absence of a functional government, leading to over 1.4 million displaced individuals, half of whom are minors. Gangs now control an estimated 90% of the capital city, Port-au-Prince, with violence spreading to regions previously considered safe.
Children Targeted by Gangs for Recruitment
Emmline Toussaint, the main coordinator of Mary's Meals' school feeding programme in Haiti, emphasised the vulnerability of children in this crisis. "Gangs are always trying to target children because they are most vulnerable, most in need of assistance," she stated. "You cannot get out once you get in a gang. It's either you die, or your family dies, or you stay in. We've already lost those aged 15 to 30. That's why we need to work more with those children aged three to 14. They are the ones that we should focus on, those little ones. They need us to guide them differently."
Charity's Efforts and Challenges in Delivering Aid
Mary's Meals reaches children by collaborating with local partners, who have adapted delivery plans to maintain access to as many schools as possible. In schools where the charity operates, children have a reason to attend classes and the energy to concentrate during lessons, providing a temporary safe haven. However, the organisation faces significant challenges, including rising food and fuel prices, as well as increased costs for safe transportation. Suppliers must use longer, safer routes to avoid gang-controlled main highways, further straining resources.
Founder's Perspective and Signs of Hope
Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, who founded Mary's Meals over two decades ago from a shed in the Scottish Highlands, reflected on the dire situation. "I knew from my visits that, from the beginning, Haiti would be an extremely difficult place for us to work," he said. "But I had no doubt that it was somewhere we should be providing Mary's Meals. What I could have never imagined is that, 20 years later, the situation would be even more terrible. Poverty, hunger, and disruption still stand in the way of children and their education. Yet there are signs of hope—a child smiling in school where they feel safe and receive a meal, and teachers who keep showing up for their classes with remarkable courage."
Urgent Appeal for Donations to Sustain Operations
The charity has issued an urgent appeal for donations to help provide nutrition to children in safe learning environments. "Mary's Meals urgently needs support to keep its promise to the children it serves in Haiti and show them that there is hope beyond the violence," the organisation stated. "Right now, your gift does more than provide food—it helps children stay in school, where they can learn and grow into the leaders who will transform Haiti's future." With more than half of Haiti's population under the age of 25, and one in five aged between 15 and 24, the need for sustained intervention is critical to prevent further loss of young lives to violence and hunger.
