Nearly 580,000 people are internally displaced across Haiti, a 60 per cent increase since March, according to the latest data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the country.
“The figures we see today are a direct consequence of years of spiraling violence – that reached a new high in February – and its catastrophic humanitarian impact,” said Philippe Branchat, head of the IOM in Haiti. “The unending crisis in Haiti is pushing more and more people to flee their homes and leave everything behind. This is not something they do lightly. What’s more, for many of them, this is not the first time.”
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In addition to the displacement in and around the capital Port-au-Prince, the skyrocketing violence and effective siege imposed by armed groups has pushed ever greater numbers of people to flee to neighboring provinces. This has doubled the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Southern region from 116,000 to 270,000 in the last three months alone.
Nearly all those internally displaced are currently hosted by communities already struggling with overburdened social services and poor infrastructure, raising further concerns about tensions with the potential to spark further violence. This is particularly acute in southern areas already weakened by the 2021 earthquake, which are now hosting almost half of Haiti’s internally displaced population.
Since the end of February, movements of goods such as medicine and fuel between the capital and the provinces have been severely limited, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
In the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, two thirds of IDPs live in spontaneous sites with very limited access to basic services. Schools and learning institutions currently make up 39 of the 96 active displacement sites and host 61,000 people, severely limiting school attendance. Sustainable, decent employment opportunities, equal access to basic services, and access to education for both IDPs and host communities are urgently needed.
IOM is continuing to monitor and respond to the needs of displaced and affected communities, working in collaboration with partners and local authorities to provide humanitarian assistance and support for durable solutions. Since the end of February, the organization has provided nearly 5 million litres of clean water to some 25,000 people and rehabilitated 22 water hand pumps. More than 37,000 people have been provided with relief supplies including blankets, water containers, solar lamps, kitchen sets and plastic sheets.
Mobile clinics have been deployed to provide medical assistance for 18,000 people and psychosocial support has been made available, including through a free hotline. IOM is also engaged in awareness-raising activities with local communities – focusing on topics such as child protection, mental health, accountability and reproductive health – that have benefited thousands of people. (IOM)
