The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is sounding the alarm about the deterioration of the humanitarian situation and the insecurity crisis. The rise in violence since February this year has reached unprecedented levels, leading to worsening food security and multiple displacements.

Philippe Branchat, Chief of IOM Haiti said "Humanitarian staff, including our own, face unprecedented security challenges, balancing the imperative to help others with the harsh reality of personal risk and displacement."

The crisis extends well beyond the limits of Port-au-Prince, affecting communities across Haiti and has caused the displacement of more than 360,000. Nearly 100,000 displaced people live in these sites whose conditions are deplorable.

Amid the unrest ravaging Haiti, its economy remains struggling. The IOM psychosocial team has encountered cases of suicidal tendencies that were once a taboo subject but are now being revealed more and more frequently, particularly among displaced populations. The lack of economic opportunities, coupled with the collapse of the health system and the closure of schools, casts a shadow of despair, pushing many people to consider migration as their only viable recourse. However, for most Haitians, the prospect of regular migration remains an insurmountable obstacle; the arduous process of obtaining a passport can last months or even more than a year, leaving irregular migration as the only semblance of hope.

IOM and its partners are providing assistance in areas where it is most needed. In March, more than 1.5 million liters of water were delivered to sites hosting displaced people, affecting more than 23,500 people. Essential items such as blankets, water tanks, solar lamps and cooking sets have been distributed to more than 18,000 people.

IOM's humanitarian response included the provision of assistance in the form of basic medical services, on-site psychosocial support with group counseling and individual psychotherapy sessions. A free hotline is also available to displaced people in need or wishing to raise concerns.

HL/ HaitiFree