GENEVA — The U.N. migration agency has announced that the number of people internally displaced in Haiti has surged dramatically over the past year, largely driven by escalating gang violence. This alarming situation has resulted in over 1 million individuals being displaced, marking an unprecedented level of internal displacement in the Caribbean nation.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), relentless criminal activities in the capital city of Port-au-Prince have almost doubled the number of people forced to flee their homes. The agency indicated that this crisis is further compounded by a collapse of health services, alongside worsening food insecurity in a country that is already one of the poorest in the world. In a statement released by the organization, it was reported that “1,041,000 people, many of whom have been displaced multiple times,” are currently facing an escalating humanitarian crisis, with children representing more than half of this displaced population.
This new figure reflects a staggering triple increase from December 2022, when about 315,000 people were recorded as displaced. IOM spokesperson Kennedy Okoth shared insights at a U.N. briefing in Geneva, where he noted that the forced return of around 200,000 individuals, primarily from the neighboring Dominican Republic, has intensified the existing crisis. The island of Hispaniola is shared between both nations.
Okoth highlighted the rise in displacement sites, which have increased from 73 to 108 within the last year in Port-au-Prince. In response to the ongoing crisis, U.S. policy has also come under scrutiny. The outgoing administration of President Joe Biden has advocated for an expansion of a temporary status program that allows nationals from countries like Haiti, El Salvador, and Venezuela to stay in the U.S. However, President-elect Donald Trump and his vice-presidential running mate, JD Vance, have suggested a potential rollback of these policies aimed at granting temporary status, advocating instead for mass deportations. Although the possibility exists for U.S. federal regulations to prematurely terminate such extensions, this has never been implemented.
While addressing questions about potential changes to U.S. protections for Haitians, Okoth refrained from commenting on any specific country. However, he emphasized that “deportation or any forced returns to countries that are already facing mounting security and humanitarian challenges is not something that is going to be beneficial to the group.”
In light of the ongoing challenges posed by gang violence, the Haitian government recently swore in Mario Andrésol as the new state secretary of public security. Having previously served as the director of Haiti’s National Police nearly two decades ago, Andrésol has committed to intensifying efforts to combat gang activities, as well as drug and weapon trafficking.
“We have to think and rethink strategies to fight crime,” he declared at a press conference, during which he observed a moment of silence for victims of violence. His appointment was supported by Haitian Prime Minister Alix Fils-Aimé, who stressed the importance of placing qualified individuals in key roles to ensure the safety of the Haitian people.
“The Haitian people deserve to live in peace,” Fils-Aimé stated, acknowledging the multifaceted challenges the nation is facing. “If we work nonstop, that can be changed.” In a concerning update, the U.N. Human Rights Office reported that over 5,600 people lost their lives to violence in Haiti last year—an increase exceeding 20% compared to the previous year—alongside over 2,200 injuries and almost 1,500 reported kidnappings.
