Rising Displacement Crisis in Haiti Due to Gang Violence

More than one million individuals, including a significant number of children, are now internally displaced in Haiti due to ongoing violence from armed gangs. The situation has reached alarming levels, with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reporting a sharp increase in displacement—rising from 315,000 in December 2023 to 1.04 million currently. This marks an unprecedented crisis for the nation, where never before have so many people been forced from their homes due to violence.

IOM Director General Amy Pope emphasized the urgent need for continuous humanitarian aid to safeguard lives and address the fundamental issues fueling the violence in Haiti. The current control exercised by armed groups, particularly in the capital of Port-au-Prince, has further exacerbated the crisis, severely limiting access to essential services.

An international peacekeeping initiative, which was sanctioned last year to help restore order in Haiti, has seen only a minimal number of troops deployed so far. Recently, two groups of Guatemalan soldiers have arrived to support the mission, but more extensive efforts are still needed.

The IOM has also noted a critical shortage of shelter space as many displaced people struggle to access basic necessities such as food and clean water. Moreover, the ongoing deportation of migrants from neighboring countries, particularly the Dominican Republic, has intensified the burden on overstrained communities in Haiti. According to spokesperson Kennedy Okoth Omondi, these deportations exacerbate the existing hardships faced by those already in survival mode.