Escalating gang violence in Haiti has sparked a new wave of mass displacement, with thousands forced to flee their homes in the country’s Artibonite department, according to the United Nations.
The latest surge in violence follows a series of attacks late last month in the community of Jean-Denis, where armed groups killed at least 16 people and injured several others. The assaults have been attributed to the notorious Gran Grif gang, one of the country’s most feared criminal organizations.
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Initial reports indicated that more than 6,000 residents fled the area in the immediate aftermath. However, updated figures from the International Organization for Migration show that the number of displaced persons has now surpassed 13,000, highlighting the scale of the humanitarian crisis.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters that the majority of those displaced, approximately four out of five, have sought refuge with host families, while others have been forced into at least 16 temporary displacement sites.
Humanitarian agencies, including the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, are working alongside Haitian authorities to provide assistance. However, Dujarric noted that limited resources and restricted access to affected communities continue to hinder relief efforts.
The violence has drawn condemnation from both the United States and Canada, as concerns grow over Haiti’s deteriorating security situation.
Haiti, a member of the Caribbean Community, has been grappling with escalating gang control and instability since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse on July 7, 2021. Since then, armed groups have expanded their influence across key regions, displacing communities, disrupting economic activity, and deepening the country’s humanitarian crisis.
The latest displacement underscores the ongoing challenges facing Haiti, where insecurity, weak state capacity, and limited humanitarian access continue to place thousands at risk, with no immediate resolution in sight.
