According to a recently released Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), nearly 1.3 million people are now internally displaced in Haiti, a 24% increase since December 2024.

This increase represents the highest number of people displaced by violence ever recorded in Haiti...

"Behind these numbers are so many individual people whose suffering is immeasurable; children, mothers, the elderly, many of them forced to flee their homes multiple times, often with nothing, and now living in conditions that are neither safe nor sustainable," said Amy Pope, IOM Director General. "We need to act urgently. The strength of the Haitian people is humbling, but resilience cannot be their only refuge. This crisis cannot become the new normal."

While Port-au-Prince remains the epicenter of the crisis, gang violence is spreading beyond the capital. Recent attacks in the Centre and Artibonite departments have forced tens of thousands more residents to flee, many of them now living in precarious conditions and makeshift shelters. Although nearly a quarter of internally displaced people still live in the capital, a growing number are fleeing to other parts of the country in search of safety. In the North, the number of people forced to leave their homes has increased by nearly 80%.

In the Artibonite department, violence in Petite Rivière alone has driven thousands more from their homes, bringing the total number of displaced people in the area to over 92,000. In the Centre department, the situation is even more alarming. Fighting in towns like Mirebalais and Saut-d’Eau has more than doubled the number of people on the move in just a few months, rising from around 68,000 to over 147,000. Many now face life without access to health care, schools, and clean water, leaving already vulnerable families struggling to survive.

As more people are forced to flee, the number of spontaneous displacement sites is also rising. Since December, these sites have jumped from 142 to 246. The sharpest increase is in areas that previously had none, like the Centre department, which now hosts 85 sites. Yet around 83 per cent are sheltering with host families, placing enormous strain on already overstretched households, especially in rural communities.

IOM continues to play a leading role in the humanitarian response. In the past month, the Organization assisted over 20,000 people with essential household items such as buckets and cooking utensils, distributed over 3 million litres of clean water, and provided basic health services to 6,000 people. Additionally, IOM has reinforced its mental health support, reaching over 8,500 displaced people. IOM teams are currently deployed in the Centre department to assess the multisectoral needs and prepare the response.

Faced with increasing needs, IOM reiterates its call for increased support from the international community. Without immediate funding and access, millions of people remain at risk. Humanitarian assistance is essential, but it is not enough on its own. Durable solutions must address the root causes of displacement, improve access to essential services, and create viable alternatives to gang violence for youth. These measures are essential to break the cycle of violence and restore stability.

HL/ HaitiLibre