Hike in violence displaces thousands in Haiti: UN
United Nations, June 27
An upsurge in armed clashes between rival gangs has displaced thousands of people from their homes across several regions of Haiti, UN humanitarians have said.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Friday (local time) said the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that more than 2,600 people were displaced in the Artibonite department last week. More than three-quarters of them sought refuge in the commune of Marchand Dessalines.
"Continuing violence in the Artibonite department is raising serious protection concerns," OCHA said.
The IOM reported that in Haiti's West department, renewed armed clashes in Cite Soleil since June 13 have displaced more than 5,000 people, adding to the thousands who had been displaced between March and May while fleeing armed violence.
OCHA said ongoing violence has severely disrupted health services, particularly for women and girls, reports Xinhua news agency.
It has forced Doctors Without Borders, a nongovernmental organisation, to suspend activities at its maternity facility in Cite Soleil on June 19, depriving thousands of women of access to maternal and reproductive health care in one of the most densely populated areas of Port-au-Prince. It has also led to an increase in the number of wounded treated in health facilities, said the office.
According to the IOM, more than 25,500 people were forcibly returned last month, bringing the total for the year to more than 117,000 people. Of those, 24 per cent were women, and nearly 8 per cent were children.
OCHA said it continues to work with humanitarian partners to assess needs and provide assistance despite significant access constraints. The 2026 Haiti humanitarian appeal for 880 million U.S. dollars is only 27 per cent funded, it added.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is truly alarming. The fact that over 117,000 people have been forcibly returned to Haiti this year while the country is in chaos is deeply concerning. I understand countries have migration policies, but sending people back to such danger seems inhumane. Also, why are the UN appeals so poorly funded? The world can find money for conflicts elsewhere but not for humanitarian needs in vulnerable nations. 😞
While the situation in Haiti is indeed tragic, I can't help but ask—where is the local government's responsibility? The UN and NGOs can only do so much if the state itself is failing. In India, we've seen how community efforts can make a difference during crises, but first, there needs to be political will. I hope the international community pushes for stronger governance in Haiti alongside humanitarian aid.
Reading this makes me grateful for the relative peace in our region. The violence in Artibonite and Cite Soleil must be terrifying for families, especially children and pregnant women. The suspension of Doctors Without Borders' maternity services is a huge blow—maternal health is already a challenge in crisis zones. The UN says only 27% of the appeal is funded? That's criminal negligence. We can do better, world. 🌍
Honestly, this is a wake-up call for the Global South. Haiti's crisis shows how interconnected we are—if the UN can't protect people in one small country, what happens when a bigger crisis hits? The lack of funding is a scandal. India should maybe send some medical aid or expertise; we have experience in disaster response. Every life lost is a collective failure.
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