Data or statistical facts on the situation and perspectives of agri-food systems and the impact of policies
45% of Caribbean SDG targets are stagnant or regressing, making it the lowest-performing subregion (13%) versus 19% in South America and 18% in Central America (CEPAL, 2026).
45 million additional people could fall into acute hunger if the Iran war persists, with the Caribbean among the most vulnerable regions due to food import dependence and El Niño drought threats (The Guardian, 2026).
2.4% rise in FAO's Food Price Index in March 2026 reached its highest since September of the prior year, with crude oil near USD 120 per barrel due to the Iran conflict (Ibáñez, 2026).
Targeted cash transfers reduce poverty approximately 2× more per dollar spent than universal subsidies in response to food price shocks.
60,000 people in Haiti's central region are without access to WFP food assistance due to gang violence. 1.4 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) are at risk of food insecurity.
Nearly 40% of Haitians survive on less than $2.15 daily, and experts warn the fuel hike will force 'impossible tradeoffs' regarding basic services and food access for already struggling families.
On April 2, 2026, Haiti's government announced a 37% increase in diesel prices and 29% in gasoline, triggering street protests in Port-au-Prince. With gangs controlling an estimated 90% of fuel distribution, the price hike is compounding an already severe food security crisis.
The IMF warns that energy-importing Caribbean countries face balance of payments pressures due to rising oil and food prices; oil surpassed USD 100/barrel (+50% in one month), with additional risks for tourism- and remittance-dependent economies.
Freight rates for oil tankers rose (BDTI +54% and BCTI +72%), while marine fuel prices increased by up to +99% for low-sulfur fuel and +100% for high-sulfur fuel, driving up transportation costs in global supply chains.
Rising borrowing costs are increasing the potential economic burden of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Following the military escalation, sovereign bond yields rose by between 0.24 and 0.64 percentage points, reaching as high as 7.1%.
