Worsening gang violence in Haiti continues to fuel a humanitarian crisis marked by mass displacement, escalating violence, and mounting disruptions to aid operations, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, UN Secretary General spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric relayed grim updates from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), noting that more than 200,000 Haitians—men, women, and children—are now living in spontaneous displacement sites across the country. This figure reflects a sharp rise in displacement, with the number of such sites nearly doubling from 119 in March to 228 by late April.
“This increase is largely the result of attacks in the Centre Department, which have forced more people to flee their homes,” said Dujarric. “More than 90 per cent of those displaced are concentrated in the capital, Port-au-Prince.”
In the commune of Kenscoff in the Ouest Department, armed violence displaced nearly 1,000 people last week. While some sought refuge with relatives, many had no choice but to settle in newly created makeshift shelters. Dujarric added that police vehicles were torched and several violent incidents, including those with casualties, were reported by local partners on the ground.
Humanitarian workers have not been spared. Between March 21 and April 25, there were at least 15 security incidents targeting non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including blocked trucks, supplies burned, and crossfire damaging clearly marked NGO vehicles. Aid access via roads remains severely limited, forcing reliance on costly air transport.
“OCHA is working with all parties to sustain access for relief supplies and personnel movements into the affected areas,” Dujarric said. “They’re coordinating closely with partners to ensure a targeted response—when and where it’s safe, and when funding permits.”
As Haiti grapples with escalating gang control, particularly in urban centers like Port-au-Prince, international agencies continue to call for urgent support to stem the humanitarian fallout in the French-speaking CARICOM nation.
