Over 1 Million Displaced in Haiti Amid Escalating Gang Violence, IOM Reports
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has revealed that more than one million people in Haiti are now displaced due to escalating gang violence.
This marks a staggering increase, tripling from 315,000 displaced individuals in December 2023 to over a million within a year. Alarmingly, half of those displaced are children, underscoring the dire humanitarian crisis in the country.
The violence has hit Haiti’s Port-au-Prince metropolitan area the hardest, with many displaced families seeking refuge in rural provinces. However, this migration has placed immense pressure on local communities, depleting already limited resources.
The IOM reported a surge in displacement sites in the capital, growing from 73 to 108 over the past year, with these locations suffering from overcrowding and insufficient access to essentials such as food, water, sanitation, and education.
Gang control of over 80% of Port-au-Prince and the death of more than 5,600 people in 2024 highlight the severe security challenges. The Artibonite department also saw displacement triple, affecting over 84,000 individuals.
IOM Director General Amy Pope emphasized the urgent need for humanitarian aid and a collaborative effort to address the root causes of violence and instability. Adding to these challenges, Haiti’s political, economic, and security crises have left the nation of 11 million people facing the looming threat of famine.
