More than 20,000 people fleeing escalating gang violence have been displaced in Port-au-Prince in just four days, with more than 17,000 sheltering in 15 camps, the International Organization for Migration (IOM Haiti) reports. Noting that "Many of these individuals have faced multiple displacements, repeatedly forced to flee violence leaving behind what little they managed to rebuild. Such a scale of displacement has not been observed since August 2023."

Criminal groups in the capital continue to expand, taking over new neighborhoods and further isolating communities. Formerly rival factions that fought over territorial disputes have united to combat the efforts of the police, which, struggling with a lack of resources, remains overwhelmed and faces significant challenges in containing the escalation of gang violence that has caused nearly 4,000 deaths in 2024, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

The shutdown of air traffic following the targeted shootings of three commercial airliners over Port-au-Prince https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43614-haiti-flash-spirit-airlines-plane-hit-in-flight-by-several-bullets-video.html , restricted access to the country’s main seaport, and dangerous roads controlled by armed groups have left the metropolitan area in a state of near-total paralysis, compounding the suffering of already vulnerable populations, disrupting supply chains essential supply lines and isolating the city.

"The isolation of Port-au-Prince is amplifying an already dire humanitarian situation," said Grégoire Goodstein IOM’s Chief in Haiti. "Our ability to deliver aid is stretched to its limits. Without immediate international support, the suffering will worsen exponentially. With only 20 percent of Port-au-Prince accessible, humanitarian workers face immense challenges in reaching affected populations." The Organization calls on everyone to respect the neutrality and impartiality of humanitarian aid operations, allowing unhindered access to those in need and preserving the integrity of humanitarian assistance.

Despite these challenges, IOM and its partners remain committed to providing life-saving assistance. The Organization actively assists internally displaced persons by providing them with rental subsidies and deploying mobile clinics to offer basic medical care, medicines and protection services such as psychosocial support, family reunification efforts and assistance to victims of gender-based violence.

HL/ HaitiLibre