Haiti has faced unrest since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. The current wave of displacement, the largest since August 2023, comes as armed gangs join forces to increase control capital, leaving the National Police overwhelmed and ill-equipped.
The city was surrounded
The capital faces almost complete paralysis, the IOM warns, following an incident last week when a commercial plane allegedly opened fire, crashing into a Spirit Airlines jet based in the United States as it was landing at the national airport, injuring a flight attendant.
The US Federal Aviation Administration has banned flights to Haiti for at least the next 30 days. International flights remain grounded, adding to the beleaguered nation’s sense of isolation.
With access to the main seaport restricted and roads controlled by gangs, essential supplies are unable to reach vulnerable populations, the agency said.
“Port-au-Prince’s isolation is amplifying an already dire humanitarian situation,” Grégoire Goodstein warns, IOMLeader in Haiti. “With only 20% of Port-au-Prince accessible, humanitarian workers face enormous challenges in reaching affected populations,” he added.
Increased gang violence
Criminal groups in the capital continue to expand, taking control of additional neighborhoods and isolating communities further.
The national police force, struggling with severe resource shortages, remains overwhelmed and faces significant challenges in preventing escalating violence
The toll of gang-related violence has reached catastrophic levels, with the United Nations human rights office (UNHCR) reported nearly 4,000 gang-related deaths specifically in 2024.
Gender-based violence, including sexual violence used as a weapon of terrorism, has reached alarming levels. Women and children bear a disproportionate burden of the crisis, with 94% of displaced women and girls at increased risk of violence.
Humanitarian response efforts
Despite severe access limitations, IOM continues to provide life-saving assistance through mobile medical clinics, rent subsidies for displaced people, protection services, psychological support, water supply to relocation sites and support at border crossings.
The organization maintains work across the country, including migrant protection centers and community stabilization projects.
IOM emphasizes the importance of upholding humanitarian principles amid escalating crises and calls on all parties to respect the neutrality and impartiality of aid operations, allowing those in need unhindered access and protect the integrity of humanitarian assistance.
Financial crisis
The humanitarian response is facing severe funding shortages, with the United Nations’ $674 million response plan severely underfunded at 42%.
“Without immediate international support, the suffering will become exponentially worse,” Mr. Goodstein emphasized.
