UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations Tuesday said it remains “deeply concerned” over escalating violence in Haiti, particularly in he Artibonite department, which has triggered a new wave of displacement.
Violence in Artibonite department of HaitiUN spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric, described the situation in Haiti as “a horrendous crisis” and that UN humanitarian officials continue to worry about the situation.
He said that the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports that nearly 15,000 people fled after armed attacks last week in the communes of Dessalines and Verrettes.
“Most of them sought safety in Poste Pierrot, a remote part of Dessalines, where they are being hosted by local families. This, as you can imagine, like in many other places, is putting additional pressure on already vulnerable communities.”
Dujarric said elsewhere in the Artibonite department, the security situation in the commune of L’Estère is worsening.
“Clashes erupted there between gangs and local self-defense groups on Saturday leading to additional displacement and damage to civilian property,” Dujarric said, adding that ‘this follows a series of coordinated offensives by gangs between 14 and 17 July across several parts of the Artibonite.
Dujarric told the daily news briefing that in addition to casualties, preliminary reports indicate that homes and vehicles were destroyed.
“Displaced families are in urgent need of hygiene supplies, food, emergency shelter, medical assistance, and other essential items. However, OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) ,warns that ongoing insecurity continues to severely restrict humanitarian access, making it difficult to reach those in need.”
Dujarric said this latest displacement adds to an already dire situation nationwide, noting “as we told you last week, nearly 1.3 million people in Haiti are displaced – the highest number ever recorded in Haiti due to violence and insecurity.
“OCHA reiterates the urgent need of scaling up humanitarian support and protection of families across the country. We continue to work with partners and authorities to improve access, mobilize additional funding – which is obviously critically needed- and ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches those most in need, despite the increasingly constrained operating environment,” Dujarric added.
The UN said that since 2021 and the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, gang violence has dominated the capital Port-au-Prince which is now 85 per cent controlled by gangs.
Over 1.3 million Haitians have been displaced because of this violence, representing the largest displacement due to political upheaval in Haitian history, the UN said, noting that food insecurity among displaced Haitians is rampant, with Haiti being one of five countries worldwide which is experiencing famine-like conditions.
As of March 2025, the violence has also expanded into previously untouched areas of the country, specifically the Artibonite and Centre Departments where 92,000 and 147,000 people have been displaced respectively
On Monday, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé and the advisors to the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC), Leslie Voltaire and Laurent St-Cyr, met with Justice and Public Security Minister, Patrick Pelissier, as well as Mario Andrésol, Secretary of State for Public Security and representatives of the Security Task Force, the Haitian Armed Forces (FAd’H), the Haitian National Police (PNH), and the Multinational Security Support Mission (MMSS).
The meeting emphasized the need for ongoing and close coordination between all national institutions and international partners in a bid to end the existing political and socio-economic situation in the country.
