Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government is providing assistance to Haiti in the context of reports that at least eight inmates have starved to death at an overcrowded prison.

We are aware of the reports of fatalities from malnutrition in a prison facility in Les Cayes, Haiti. These tragedies are rooted in the economic and health crises experienced in Haiti. They have been compounded by the devastating earthquake last year, and by the rise in global food prices resulting from Russia's illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Furthermore, routes in and out of Port-Au-Prince, which may be used to transport supplies, are obstructed by an increase in criminal activity.

Through our support to the United Nations (and other international organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations) we are providing assistance to the Haitian Government to address systemic in-country issues - including chronic hunger that impacts over 4.7million Haitians.

We encourages all actors to work constructively to find solutions to the causes of these crises, and to support recovery and progress for the Haitian people.