The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reported an unprecedented surge in violence in Haiti since February of this year, leading to rampant food insecurity and widespread displacement. Families in the country are struggling to secure basic necessities as the crisis worsens. Philippe Branchat, head of IOM in Haiti, noted that providing assistance has become increasingly difficult due to the escalating security challenges faced by humanitarian staff.
The crisis is not confined to Port-au-Prince, but has affected communities across Haiti, with over 360,000 people displaced nationwide. Conditions in temporary sites for the nearly 100,000 internally displaced people are deplorable, exacerbating their suffering. These individuals are in urgent need of access to food, healthcare, water, psychological support, and hygiene facilities, according to IOM.
The IOM psychosocial team has encountered cases of suicide tendencies among displaced populations, indicating a growing sense of desperation. The lack of economic opportunities, a collapsing health system, and closed schools have driven many to consider migration as their only viable option. Regular migration remains out of reach for most Haitians, leaving irregular migration as their only hope, as reported by the agency.
Despite the deteriorating security situation, IOM revealed that 13,000 migrants were forcibly returned to Haiti by neighboring countries in March, a 46% increase from the previous month. Upon arrival, nearly 3,000 of these migrants have received humanitarian assistance, with an additional 1,200 benefiting from psychosocial support. IOM and its partners are working to provide assistance to areas most in need, delivering over 1.5 million liters of water to sites hosting internally displaced people in March and distributing essential items to more than 18,000 people.
The situation in Haiti remains dire, with the escalating violence leading to widespread food insecurity, displacement, and desperation among the population. Humanitarian staff are facing unprecedented security challenges as they strive to provide assistance to those in need. The lack of economic opportunities and a collapsing health system have driven many to contemplate migration as their only recourse, highlighting the urgent need for support and intervention. IOM and its partners are working tirelessly to deliver assistance to displaced populations, but the challenges posed by the crisis continue to grow, underscoring the urgent need for international support and solidarity in addressing the escalating humanitarian crisis in Haiti.
