UN voices concern over sudden surge in displacement in Haiti

IANS June 12, 2025 290 views

Haiti is experiencing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis with 1.3 million people internally displaced due to escalating violence. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports a 24% increase in displacement since December 2024. Armed group conflicts have expanded beyond Port-au-Prince, significantly impacting regions like Centre and Artibonite departments. The situation remains critical, with limited humanitarian access and insufficient funding threatening to worsen the already dire circumstances.

"Without urgent support, the crisis will deepen further" - UN OCHA
United Nations, June 12: UN humanitarians have voiced concern over the alarming rise in internal displacement as a result of violence in Haiti.

Key Points

1

Violence in Port-au-Prince triggers massive population movement

2

Centre Department displacement doubles in six months

3

246 spontaneous displacement sites now active

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Wednesday said nearly 1.3 million people are now displaced across the country, citing figures from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

It represents an increase of 24 per cent since December 2024. It also marks the highest figure ever recorded due to violence in Haiti.

While the capital city of Port-au-Prince remains the epicentre of violence among armed groups, its expansion into other regions, particularly the Centre and Artibonite departments, has triggered large-scale displacement, said OCHA.

In the Centre Department, the number of displaced people has more than doubled in just months, increasing from 68,000 in December 2024 to over 145,000 in June this year, reports Xinhua news agency, citing the OCHA data.

In Artibonite, more than 90,000 people have fled their homes since December, and the Department of the North has seen an increase of nearly 80 per cent in displacement. Displaced families are often forced to settle in informal sites or overcrowded host households with limited access to basic services, said the office.

Since December, the number of spontaneous displacement sites has risen sharply -- from 142 to 246 -- with the most significant increase observed in the Centre Department, which previously had none. Today, it hosts 85 active sites. Meanwhile, 83 per cent of displaced people are hosted by families, creating additional pressure on already fragile rural communities, it said.

The IOM has scaled up its operations in the metropolitan zone of Port-au-Prince, reaching over 20,000 people with essential household items, delivering 3 million litres of clean water, and providing basic health care to 6,000 people. Mental health and psychosocial support have also been extended to more than 8,500 people, said OCHA.

It noted that this sharp rise in displacement comes at a time when humanitarian access is increasingly restricted, and funding remains critically low. Without urgent support to meet growing needs and address the structural drivers of displacement, the crisis will deepen further, placing even more pressure on already overstretched systems and communities.

Reader Comments

Here are 6 diverse Indian perspective comments on the Haiti displacement crisis:
P
Priya K.
This is heartbreaking to read. While we have our own challenges in India, we must remember our shared humanity. Haiti needs international support - perhaps India could contribute through medical teams or food aid? We've shown such solidarity during other global crises.
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Rahul S.
The numbers are staggering! 1.3 million displaced is nearly the population of our Nagpur city. The UN needs to act decisively - where is the international community when small nations suffer? 😔 We Indians understand displacement trauma from partition history.
A
Ananya M.
While we sympathize with Haiti's plight, India has enough domestic issues to focus on first - from Manipur to Jammu & Kashmir. Charity begins at home. The West with their colonial history in Caribbean should take lead in helping Haiti.
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Vikram J.
The water crisis mentioned hits close to home - reminds me of drought situations in Maharashtra. India's Jal Jeevan Mission experience could be valuable for Haiti. Maybe our NGOs can share best practices in water management with Haitian communities.
S
Sunita P.
So many children must be suffering without schools or proper nutrition. As a mother, this pains me deeply. India's mid-day meal program model could help - we've shown how to feed millions of children even in difficult circumstances. #HumanityFirst
K
Karan D.
Respectfully, while the situation is tragic, the UN seems to focus more on symptoms than root causes. Why not address the arms smuggling fueling gang violence? India faces similar cross-border weapon smuggling issues - the world needs stronger action against illegal arms trade.

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Tags:
Haiti Crisis UN Humanitarian Report Port-au-Prince Violence Internal Displacement Humanitarian Aid