Can't read it? Listen now!
Haiti is facing a deepening displacement crisis, with over 700,000 people forced from their homes as gang violence and instability continue to escalate, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). As of early September, the number of internally displaced people (IDPs) reached 702,973, a 22% increase since June, highlighting the worsening humanitarian situation in the country.
The IOM has called for urgent international support, emphasizing the need for sustained humanitarian efforts. “The sharp rise in displacement underscores the urgent need for a sustained humanitarian response,” said Gregoire Goodstein, IOM’s chief in Haiti.
The crisis has particularly impacted families and host communities, with 83% of displaced individuals being sheltered by local households. This has placed significant strain on resources, with families facing food shortages, overwhelmed healthcare facilities, and limited access to essential supplies.
Around 75% of those displaced have sought refuge in Haiti’s provinces, while the remaining population is concentrated in the capital, Port-au-Prince, where conditions are described as “precarious and unpredictable.” Many are living in overcrowded sites with little access to basic services such as clean water, healthcare, and sanitation.
The IOM has stressed the need for international action, urging the global community to bolster its support for both the displaced populations and the communities hosting them. “We call on the international community to step up its support for Haiti’s displaced populations and the host communities that continue to show remarkable resilience in the face of these challenges,” said Goodstein.
This displacement crisis is compounded by escalating gang violence, which has claimed over 3,600 lives in 2024, according to the UN human rights office. In response, the UN Security Council has extended the mandate for a Kenya-led multinational policing mission in Haiti, initially approved in October 2023, to assist local authorities in stabilizing the country.
