An increase in armed conflicts between rival gangs in Haiti has led to the displacement of numerous individuals across various regions, as per UN reports. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs highlighted that over 2,600 people were forced to leave their homes in the Artibonite department last week, with a majority seeking shelter in the commune of Marchand Dessalines. Ongoing violence in the Artibonite department is causing significant protection concerns, according to the UN.
In the West department of Haiti, recent armed clashes in Cite Soleil have resulted in the displacement of more than 5,000 individuals since June 13. This adds to the thousands who were already displaced between March and May due to armed conflicts. The violence has severely disrupted health services, especially impacting women and girls, leading to the suspension of activities at a maternity facility by Doctors Without Borders in Cite Soleil on June 19. This suspension has deprived thousands of women of crucial maternal and reproductive health care services in a densely populated area of Port-au-Prince.
The International Organization for Migration reported that over 25,500 people were forcibly returned last month, bringing the total for the year to more than 117,000 individuals. Among them, 24 percent were women and nearly 8 percent were children. Despite significant access challenges, humanitarian efforts are ongoing to assess needs and provide assistance in Haiti. However, the 2026 Haiti humanitarian appeal, requiring 880 million U.S. dollars, is only 27 percent funded, as stated by OCHA.
