GENEVA — The United Nations’ migration agency has announced that the number of people internally displaced in Haiti has surged due to escalating gang violence, exceeding 1 million — a record high for the Caribbean nation.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) released a statement on Tuesday detailing how relentless gang-related activities in the capital, Port-au-Prince, have nearly doubled the rate of displacement and led to a breakdown in healthcare services, further exacerbating food insecurity in the country, which is already among the poorest globally.
According to the IOM, current statistics indicate that 1,041,000 individuals, many of whom have faced repeated displacements, are enduring an escalating humanitarian crisis. Notably, children constitute over half of the displaced population.
This alarming statistic represents a dramatic increase from the 315,000 individuals displaced as of December 2023.
Kennedy Okoth, a spokesman for the IOM, addressed a U.N. briefing in Geneva, mentioning that the forced return of approximately 200,000 people, largely from the Dominican Republic, has further complicated the situation. The two nations share the island of Hispaniola.
Okoth noted that the number of known displacement sites in Port-au-Prince has risen significantly from 73 to 108 in just one year.
Recent developments in the U.S. immigration policy have also impacted Haiti. The outgoing administration of President Joe Biden has expanded a temporary status program, allowing nationals from countries including Haiti to remain in the U.S.
In contrast, President-elect Donald Trump and his vice-presidential candidate, JD Vance, have indicated that they might limit this program and other temporary status policies as they focus on mass deportations. Although U.S. federal regulations do allow for early termination of such extensions, this has never been implemented in practice before.
When questioned about potential changes to U.S. protections, Okoth refrained from commenting on specific nations. However, he emphasized that “deportation or any forced returns to countries that are already facing growing security and humanitarian challenges is not a viable solution for those affected.”
As the situation in Haiti deteriorates amid rampant gang violence, the government recently appointed Mario Andrésol as the new state secretary of public security.
Andrésol, who previously led Haiti’s National Police two decades ago, vowed to combat gangs and associated criminal activities, including drug and weapon trafficking.
“We must rethink our strategies to address crime,” he stated during a news conference where he honored victims of violence with a moment of silence. “Collaboration from all is essential.”
Prime Minister Alix Fils-Aimé was also present and underscored the government’s accountability in appointing competent officials to ensure the safety of the Haitian populace.
“The Haitian people deserve to live in peace,” he remarked, acknowledging the numerous challenges facing the nation but expressing optimism that dedicated efforts could bring about change.
In a recent report, the U.N. Human Rights Office indicated that over 5,600 deaths due to violence were recorded in Haiti last year, reflecting a more than 20% increase from the previous year. Additionally, there were over 2,200 injuries reported, along with nearly 1,500 kidnappings.
