The United Nations (UN) reported that the humanitarian situation remains dire for millions of people across Haiti, with insecurity continuing to impact the country’s capital, leaving tens of thousands of people uprooted since the escalation of violence in November.
The spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, told reporters that the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) also reports that ongoing floods are affecting thousands of people in both the north and the south of the country.
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“In the face of these challenges, the UN and our humanitarian partners are supporting authorities and providing assistance to people in need,” Dujarric said.
He stated that in the capital, Port-au-Prince, over the past week, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and its partners distributed more than 900,000 liters of water to over 60,000 displaced people across 26 sites in the capital region.
Dujarric noted that, for its part, the World Food Programme (WFP) has provided more than 95,000 hot meals to an estimated 24,000 displaced people across four sites in Port-au-Prince. He added that this week, mobile medical clinics operated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) were made accessible to about 14,000 people across four sites for displaced individuals.
“In the south, we are continuing to support our partners in coordinating with authorities the flood response and providing emergency aid, including hygiene kits and blankets, while implementing cash transfer activities. For example, IOM provided emergency kits to 4,000 people affected by the recent flooding in Les Cayes,” Dujarric said.
The spokesperson noted that despite ongoing efforts, “our response remains impacted by lack of funding, no surprise.”
“As we enter the last weeks of the year, the US$674 million Humanitarian Response Plan remains only 43 percent funded, with US$290 million received. We would love for member states to show more generosity and send us cash for this and all our humanitarian responses. We reiterate our call for additional funding to ensure that the dire situation does not further deteriorate,” Dujarric added.
Haiti has been plunged into crisis ever since President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated at his private residence overlooking the capital in July 2021, with criminal gangs occupying a significant portion of Port-au-Prince and now seeking to overthrow the government.
The United Nations Security Council has sanctioned a Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission in Haiti—a police and military force—to help Haiti’s government restore law and order. CMC
