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Country analysis

Haiti

At least 5.2 million people in the country needed humanitarian assistance as at December 2022. Food insecurity persists across the country because of the combined effects of natural hazards and poor socioeconomic conditions.

Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, gangs have rapidly expanded their territory. In Port-au-Prince they control major roads and derive revenue from customs, water and electricity distribution systems, and bus services. People affected by gang violence often face killings, persecution, confinement, abduction, robbery, and forced displacement.

A 7.2 earthquake struck southwestern Haiti on 14 August 2021. The presence of criminal gangs in other areas of the country has delayed reconstruction and hindered access to the communities most affected by the earthquake.

As at August 2022, almost 114,000 people were internally displaced either because of increased fighting between criminal gangs in Port-au-Prince (85% of the total displaced population) or by the 14 August 2021 earthquake in southern Haiti (15%).

As at 1 January 2023, over 22,469 suspected cases of cholera (with 18,729 hospitalised), including 450 deaths, were reported in the outbreak declared at the beginning of October 2022. The rapid escalation in the number of cases has put a strain on the capacity of medical facilities to treat cholera. Greater access to vaccines is needed.

(IOM 28/10/2022, The Guardian 12/01/2023, REACH 04/01/2023, PAHO 05/01/2023)

At least 5.2 million people in the country needed humanitarian assistance as at December 2022. Food insecurity persists across the country because of the combined effects of natural hazards and poor socioeconomic conditions.

Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, gangs have rapidly expanded their territory. In Port-au-Prince they control major roads and derive revenue from customs, water and electricity distribution systems, and bus services. People affected by gang violence often face killings, persecution, confinement, abduction, robbery, and forced displacement.

A 7.2 earthquake struck southwestern Haiti on 14 August 2021. The presence of criminal gangs in other areas of the country has delayed reconstruction and hindered access to the communities most affected by the earthquake.

As at August 2022, almost 114,000 people were internally displaced either because of increased fighting between criminal gangs in Port-au-Prince (85% of the total displaced population) or by the 14 August 2021 earthquake in southern Haiti (15%).

As at 1 January 2023, over 22,469 suspected cases of cholera (with 18,729 hospitalised), including 450 deaths, were reported in the outbreak declared at the beginning of October 2022. The rapid escalation in the number of cases has put a strain on the capacity of medical facilities to treat cholera. Greater access to vaccines is needed.

(IOM 28/10/2022, The Guardian 12/01/2023, REACH 04/01/2023, PAHO 05/01/2023)

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Latest updates on country situation

07 October 2024

On 3 October 2024, an armed gang launched an attack in Pont-Sondé, a town in the Saint-Marc municipality southwest of the central Artibonite department, resulting in 70 civilian deaths and the displacement of an estimated 6,200 people. Almost 90% of IDPs have moved to nearby towns to stay with family and acquaintances. This incident highlights the growing surge in gang violence, which has claimed 3,661 lives and displaced over 700,000 people in Port-au-Prince and its surroundings since January 2024. IDPs urgently require humanitarian assistance, including access to food and healthcare services, and, for those not staying with host communities, access to shelter and WASH services. (IOM accessed 09/10/2024, OCHA 04/10/2024, AP News 08/10/2024)

30 September 2024

Between August 2024 and February 2025, around 5.41 million people are expected to experience Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse food insecurity levels. This marks a 24% increase compared to the August 2023 to February 2024 period. The main drivers of the deterioration are insecurity in the Metropolitan Area of Port-au-Prince, which has disrupted the supply of goods to local markets nationwide; economic shocks; and high food prices. (IPC 30/09/2024, IPC 20/09/2023, CARE 30/09/2024)

05 August 2024

Between April–June 2024, gang violence in Port-au-Prince killed or injured 1,379 people, a 45% decrease from the previous quarter. That said, gangs continue to affect the population through the forced recruitment of minors, particularly those living in gang-controlled areas; the sexual assault of girls and women; and attacks or lootings of public buildings, homes, and businesses. The population of the city and surrounding regions urgently require access to protection services. (OCHA 05/08/2024, AyiboPost 18/06/2024, AyiboPost 04/08/2024)

27 April 2024

Between 2022 and 11 April 2024, Haiti reported 82,000 cumulative suspected cholera cases, reaching a new peak for the country. The most affected are children between two and nine years old. Cholera, a disease that spreads more easily in the absence of adequate WASH services, seems to have found ideal conditions in Haiti, where violence obstructs people's access to these and healthcare services. People require assistance in accessing healthcare facilities, and there is a need for more medical equipment, especially cholera-confirming kits. WASH needs include access to clean water and hygiene products to curb the spread of the disease. (PAHO 27/04/2024, OCHA 09/04/2024, UNFPA 03/04/2024)

29 March 2024

In April 2024, Haiti continues to grapple with acute food insecurity resulting from a combination of insecurity, sociopolitical unrest, unemployment, and price instability, particularly in the capital Port-au-Prince. Emergency (IPC Phase 4) food insecurity persists in municipalities such as Cité Soleil, where armed groups aggravate the problem by exerting control over key transportation routes and disrupting market activities. People in the capital need assistance in accessing food and drinking water. (FEWS NET 29/03/2024, FEWS NET 18/03/2024)

16 March 2024

On March 16, armed groups looted one of UNICEF's containers at the main port of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, depriving children of critical health supplies amid a collapsing healthcare system. As at March 17, armed groups were controlling over 260 humanitarian containers at the port. Hospitals in the city have been vandalised and closed out of safety concerns, leaving only two functional surgical facilities and challenging the provision of essential medical care. As a result, the population of Port-au-Prince, particularly children and pregnant women, needs humanitarian assistance in accessing health services. (UNICEF 16/03/2024, Reuters 16/03/2024)

04 March 2024

Heavy gunfire that started on 2 March 2024 in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, killed at least four police officers as at 5 March. Gangs have declared intentions to capture the police chief and government ministers. Gunmen have targeted the airport, police stations, and neighbourhoods, forcing people to flee and trapping some in their houses. The clashes could worsen the already dire situation for many Haitians struggling to access food, education, and gender-based protection. (AP 01/03/2024, BBC 04/03/2024, PI 05/03/2024)

current crises
in Haiti

These crises have been identified through the INFORM Severity Index, a tool for measuring and comparing the severity of humanitarian crises globally.

Read more about the Index

HTI001 - Complex crisis

Last updated 25/09/2024

Drivers

Earthquake
Violence
Socio-political
Other seasonal event

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

4 High

Access constraints

3.0

Analysis products
on Haiti

Haiti: Increased internal displacement heightens food and health needs in the Grand Sud region

03 October 2024

Haiti: Increased internal displacement heightens food and health needs in the Grand Sud region

DOCUMENT / PDF / 996 KB

In 2024, Haiti has seen a 60% increase in the number of displaced people, rising from 362,000 in March to 702,973 in September, primarily as a result of deteriorating security conditions in the Port-au-Prince Metropolitan Zone (ZMPAP).

Anticipatory analysisDisplacementFood security & livelihoodsHealth
Haiti: impact of conflict on children and youth

30 September 2024

Haiti: impact of conflict on children and youth

DOCUMENT / PDF / 1 MB

This report aims to provide an overview of the humanitarian needs and risks children are facing given the escalating violence in Haiti. While mainly covering the escalation of conflict in 2024 and its impact on children, the report also provides contextual information.

AudioConflict and violence

Attached resources

AudioLISTEN TO THE REPORT
Impact of hurricane Beryl

05 July 2024

Impact of hurricane Beryl

DOCUMENT / PDF / 374 KB

On 1 July, Hurricane Beryl made landfall in southern Windward Island, becoming the earliest Category 5 Atlantic Basin hurricane on record. By
4 July, its impact had killed ten people across the Caribbean. Some of the most affected islands are Carriacou and Petite Martinique in Grenada, with 95% of houses damaged. 

Natural hazards
Haiti: Criminal gang violence in Port-au-Prince

06 June 2024

Haiti: Criminal gang violence in Port-au-Prince

DOCUMENT / PDF / 1 MB

This report provides an update on the surge in violence in the ZMPAP in the first half of 2024, highlighting the aggravation of needs and challenges accessing basic services. The report also provides an outlook section, giving insight into how the situation could evolve in the coming weeks.

Conflict and violence
Haiti: update on protection risks in Port-au-Prince

07 March 2024

Haiti: update on protection risks in Port-au-Prince

DOCUMENT / PDF / 1 MB

In 2023, Haiti saw a significant increase in gang violence. Gangs killed an estimated 4,800 people, over twice the number of victims recorded in 2022. Many were killed by gunshots fired during violent clashes.

Anticipatory analysisConflict and violence
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