PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) Monday said in just one month, intense violence has forced nearly 60,000 people to flee as Haiti recorded yet another record in its worsening humanitarian situation.
Crowded corridors replace classrooms in this school, now a displacement site in Haiti’s capital. IOM’s support—from medical aid to hygiene kits—helps ensure the well-being of families seeking safety. (Photo: IOM 2024 / Antoine Lemonnier)The IOM said that for years, gang violence, displacement, and instability have gripped the capital, Port au Prince and large parts of the country, with each wave of attack deepening the suffering of already vulnerable communities.
“However, in the last two months, the security situation has sharply deteriorated even further in the capital, with escalating attacks on civilians, eroding the few remaining gang-free areas, and forcing repeated and record displacements. The Port au Prince airport remains closed and the capital under siege,” the IOM said.
It said escalating violence has heavily impacted communities in several neighborhoods of the capital, including Delmas, Carrefour-Feuilles, Martissant, Fort National, Pétion-Ville, and Tabarre, forcing thousands to flee for safety.
According to the IOM, most of the displaced have sought refuge in 48 displacement sites, including 12 newly established ones, while others have taken shelter with already overstretched host families.
“This alarming surge in displacements underscores the relentless cycle of violence devastating Haiti’s capital, we have never observed such large number of people moving in this short time” said Grégoire Goodstein, IOM’s Chief in Haiti.
“Families are being uprooted time and again, forced to leave everything behind as they flee for safety. Many of those displaced were already living in precarious conditions after previous displacements,” he added.
Last month, the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, addressing the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) summit in Barbados, said he intends presenting to the United Nations Security Council, a new initiative aimed at supporting security and stability in Haiti.
Haiti is facing a crisis following the assassination in July 2021 of the then president Jovenel Moise. Criminal gangs have are seeking to take complete control of the capital Port au Prince, and have launched several attacks, killing women and children among others.
The UN Security Council in 2023 passed a resolution for a Kenya-based Multinational Security Support Mission, aimed at combating gang violence and restoring stability in the country.
The IOM said overall, more than one million people are displaced across the country, a number that has tripled in the past year.
“Yet, as suffering reaches new extremes, Haiti’s crisis continues to struggle for the world’s attention. Resources are stretched thin, and humanitarian needs far exceed the current response capacity. Additionally, insecurity keeps growing.”
The IOM said support for the Haitian National Police must be enhanced to provide them with the necessary resources and capabilities to restore stability and security.
“People fleeing violence need immediate protection, food, water, and shelter. The situation is worsening by the day, and without additional support, we risk seeing an even greater humanitarian catastrophe unfold,” said Goodstein.
IOM said it continues to provide life-saving assistance to displaced communities in Haiti. It said last month alone, over 16,000 people were reached with clean water and hygiene support, while 3,700 people benefited from emergency shelter, hygiene kits, medical care and psychosocial support. IOM teams remain on the ground, engaging with affected families, assessing urgent needs, and delivering aid throughout the country.
From emergency relief to long-term recovery, IOM said it is committed to providing relief and support for displaced Haitians, ensuring they receive the aid they need to survive and rebuild. However, significant challenges persist.
“Resources are overstretched, and humanitarian access is increasingly constrained due to insecurity, leaving thousands without adequate protection and essential services,” it added.
