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Press Release
19 May 2025
Haiti Humanitarian Country Team deeply concerned about the deportation of pregnant and breastfeeding women from the Dominican Republic
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Press Release
22 April 2025
Reaffirming the United Nations’ support for Haiti: Resilience and a Call for Commitment
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Press Release
07 April 2025
At least 262 people killed over two months in brutal attacks in Kenscoff, on the heights of Port-au-Prince
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Latest
The Sustainable Development Goals in Haiti
Les objectifs de développement durable (ODD), également appelés objectifs mondiaux, constituent un appel universel à l'action visant à éliminer la pauvreté, à protéger la planète et à garantir à tous les peuples la paix et la prospérité. Ce sont aussi les objectifs de l'ONU en Tunisie:
Publication
22 May 2025
Rapport annuel des résultats 2024 de l’Équipe Pays des Nations Unies en Haïti
L’année 2024 restera gravée dans nos mémoires comme une période d’épreuves et de résilience. Haïti a traversé une crise sans précédent, marquée par une situation économique toujours plus précaire et une insécurité galopante, affectant chaque aspect de la vie quotidienne. La violence des gangs armés a plongé des milliers de familles dans le deuil, la peur et a causé des déplacements forcés, exacerbant les vulnérabilités et menaçant les droits fondamentaux des populations, en particulier des femmes et des enfants.Dans cet environnement complexe, l’Équipe pays des Nations Unies a su s’adapter, innover et redoubler d’efforts pour continuer à soutenir les populations les plus touchées. Avec un engagement renouvelé, elle a mis en place des stratégies conciliant réponse humanitaire et actions de développement. Ainsi, nous avons renforcé des chaînes de valeur agricoles pour assurer une meilleure sécurité alimentaire, soutenu des structures éducatives et sanitaires, et intensifié nos actions en faveur de la protection de l’environnement et des paysages résilients. Parallèlement, nous avons appuyé des activités de plaidoyer initiées par des organisations de la société civile haïtienne en faveur des droits humains. Nous avons aussi contribué au renforcement de la justice dans un contexte en proie aux violences et aux exactions. Face à la crise humanitaire et sécuritaire, nous avons réaffirmé notre soutien aux autorités de transition dans leurs efforts de stabilisation et de renforcement des institutions démocratiques. Nos initiatives sont alignées sur les objectifs du «Pacte pour l’avenir» qui visent à favoriser une gouvernance inclusive et à poser les bases d’une paix durable. Dans ce cadre, le plaidoyer et l’accompagnement pour la tenue d’élections libres et transparentes ont constitué un axe d’intervention fondamental.Le renforcement de notre présence sur l’ensemble du territoire haïtien, et la collaboration accrue avec des organisations locales haïtiennes nous ont permis d’être plus efficace et de nous adapter face aux réalités complexes du terrain. Je vous invite, donc, à prendre connaissance des résultats présentés dans ce rapport de 2024, témoignant de la résilience et du courage du personnel des Nations Unies en Haïti, ainsi que de l’engagement de nos différents partenaires techniques et financiers qui continuent d’investir leurs efforts, pour donner de l’espoir aux Haïtiennes et Haïtiens, et parvenir à un pays économiquement fort, socialement juste, et politiquement stable et démocratique. Ulrika RichardsonCoordonnatrice résidenteCoordonnatrice humanitaire, filtered_html
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Press Release
20 May 2025
Haiti Humanitarian Country Team deeply concerned about the deportation of pregnant and breastfeeding women from the Dominican Republic
According to the latest data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), nearly 20,000 individuals — including a growing number of highly vulnerable women — were deported by land in April 2025, marking a record number for a one-month period. At the Belladère and Ouanaminthe border crossings, the National Office for Migration (ONM) and IOM, in coordination with other partners, have assisted an average of 15 pregnant women and 15 breastfeeding mothers per day since 22 April.“It is imperative that commitments to protecting vulnerable populations are upheld. These expulsions raise serious humanitarian and human rights concerns, particularly when they involve pregnant women or mothers with very young children,” said Ulrika Richardson, United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti.These deportations compound an already complex humanitarian crisis affecting millions of people across the country. Armed violence in several regions has displaced more than one million individuals.In addition, food insecurity continues to worsen nationwide. Over 5.7 million people — half the population — are currently facing acute food insecurity, with pockets of near-famine conditions.In response to this situation, United Nations agencies and their humanitarian partners, in coordination with Haitian authorities, are mobilizing to address the most urgent needs — including through the provision of safe drinking water, adapted hygiene kits, medical care, temporary shelter, psychosocial support, and food assistance.The Humanitarian Country Team in Haiti calls for migration policies that uphold human dignity and urges enhanced regional solidarity to address a crisis that transcends borders and endangers the rights and lives of thousands. For more information, please contact:
Claire-Emmanuelle Pressoir, Public Information Officer, OCHA Haiti, Port-au-Prince
claire.pressoir@un.org This article first appeared in Haiti | ReliefWeb, filtered_html
Claire-Emmanuelle Pressoir, Public Information Officer, OCHA Haiti, Port-au-Prince
claire.pressoir@un.org This article first appeared in Haiti | ReliefWeb, filtered_html
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Publication
20 April 2023
Cadre de Coopération des Nations Unies pour le Développement Durable 2023-2027
Le Cadre de Coopération des Nations Unies pour le Développement Durable représente l’engagement collectif de l’ONU en Haïti afin d’accompagner les efforts du pays dans la réalisation de l’Agenda 2030 pour le développement durable et assurer une mise en œuvre du Programme Commun des Nations Unies ainsi que le Nouvel Agenda pour la Paix.
Le Cadre de Coopération des Nations Unies pour le Développement Durable est aligné sur les priorités du Plan Stratégique de Développement d’Haïti (PSDH) et sur la vision du Gouvernement visant à faire d’Haïti un pays émergent. Élaboré sur la base des principes de la réforme du Système des Nations Unies, ce Cadre de Coopération marque un nouvel élan dans le partenariat entre l’ONU et le Gouvernement pour la période 2023-2027. Il repose sur une vision partagée des défis et des opportunités du pays. Il s’aligne aussi sur les recommandations issues de l’Examen périodique universel (EPU) d’Haïti de 2022 et fait écho aux valeurs de justice, de liberté et de dignité portées par la Déclaration universelle des droits de l’homme.
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Press Release
23 April 2025
Reaffirming the United Nations’ support for Haiti: Resilience and a Call for Commitment
This event highlighted the vital work of humanitarian and development actors amidst dire security challenges and a worsening humanitarian crisis. Efforts focus on vulnerable groups, especially in Port-au-Prince and the Artibonite region, where relentless gang violence has displaced hundreds of thousands, disproportionately impacting women and children. Across Haiti, over one million people are now displaced, a threefold increase in just a year. Nearly half the population, 5.7 million people, faces acute food insecurity, including over 8,000 in displacement sites enduring catastrophic hunger. Held alongside the World Bank's Spring Meetings, the event reaffirmed the United Nations' commitment to staying engaged on the ground. "UN humanitarian and development teams, in collaboration with international and national partners, are responding to Haiti's emergency by providing medical and mental health care, food, clean water, education, social protection, and jobs. But beyond immediate aid, we are addressing the root causes of instability, because what Haitians want and deserve is not just assistance, but dignity, stability, and peace", said Ulrika Richardson, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator of the UN system in Haiti.Since the deterioration of the crisis, the UN has expanded its presence outside the capital Port-au-Prince, working closely with national partners to drive impactful change. Collective efforts focus on strengthening local agriculture and agrobusiness and value chains, job creation, rehabilitating critical infrastructure in education and healthcare. Additionally, environmental protection and resilient landscapes remain parallel priorities.The United Nations remains steadfast in its commitment to support Haiti in its path towards stability, sustainable development, and peace. The UN calls on international partners to reinforce their constructive engagement with Haiti and the Haitian people. Jefferson BelizaireAssociate Development Coordination Officer, Programme Communications and AdvocacyJefferson.belizaire@un.org, filtered_html
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Story
16 August 2022
First Person: Taking to the sea to deliver aid in Haiti
A shipping officer working for the World Food Programme in Haiti has been explaining why the delivery of humanitarian aid by ship is becoming increasingly critical.
Captain Madeleine Habib, who is from Australia, spoke about her experiences ahead of World Humanitarian Day, which is marked annually on 19 August and the theme for which this year is “It takes a village.”
“I am a Shipping Officer for the World Food Programme in Haiti. I manage the organization’s coastal shipping service to ensure the safe transit of essential humanitarian goods and assets to the northern and southern parts of the country.
A maritime alternative is increasingly critical as gang control over the highways out of the capital continues to grow. This means that the Haitian population and humanitarian actors have limited freedom of movement in and out of the capital.
The situation has a huge impact on the population's income and on the implementation of humanitarian and development projects that should support the community.
This is especially true for the population of the southern peninsula of the country which is still suffering from the devastating impact of the August 2021 earthquake.
One year after the disaster, I recognize that thousands of people, especially in the south, are still struggling to recover and are unable to rebuild their lives because the growing insecurity in Port-au-Prince has shattered their economic prospects. Farmers in the rural south are unable to get their produce to markets so their livelihoods are suffering.
It takes a village and supply chain is an essential part of that village. We might not be on the frontline, but our network of trucks, ships and planes keeps essential humanitarian aid moving towards our beneficiaries.
Our team continues to ensure the transportation of humanitarian aid to these vulnerable populations.”
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11 February 2025
Flash Appeal for the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) in Haiti
WFP urgently REQUIRES uS$3.9 million to maintain UNHAS operations - the only aviation support available to the humanitarian community in Haiti, for the next 3 months. This critical funding is needed to avert an im-minent risk of UNHAS closure, jeopardizing the timely delivery of aid and personnel as humanitarian needs escalate in the country.Country contextHaiti is experiencing a protracted political, security and socio-economic crisis, placing it among the most acute hunger crises in the world. With over half of the country grappling with hunger, the Global Humanitarian Overview estimates that in 2025, 6 million will need humanitarian assistance, of which 4 million will be prioritized. Surging insecurity in Haiti in 2024 led to unprecedented humanitarian needs, while also necessitating flexibility and innovation from UNHAS to continue providing essential air transport services for the humanitarian community. Increased violence associated with armed groups, mostly in the capital, led to an upsurge of people being forced to flee their homes, bringing the total number displaced people to more than 1 million by the end of 2024, more than a threefold increase in a year. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) for Haiti published in September 2024, 5.4 million people in Haiti were facing acute food insecurity, of which 2 million are categorized as experiencing emergency levels of hunger. The suspension of all commercial flights serving the Port-au-Prince airport until further notice, has only intensified these issues, isolating affected populations and severely restricting access to essential services. As humanitarian needs escalate, the situation on the ground underscores the urgent requirement for immediate and robust interventions to support those most vulnerable.Why is UNHAS critical in Haiti?The current funding outlook places UNHAS at risk of imminent shutdown in Haiti, where the escalation of violence has effectively suspended all commercial air services to the Port-au-Prince airport, severely limiting the movement of humanitarian aid and personnel in a time of critical need. The United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) - as the only available aviation support serving Port-au-Prince - is therefore uniquely positioned to bridge this gap by providing uninterrupted access for aid organizations.UNHAS ensures rapid deployment of staff and transport of light cargo, and offers vital capacity for medical evacuations that are essential in an environment where traditional commercial options are unavailable.UNHAS operational planTo ensure continuous humanitarian access and effective emergency response in Haiti, UNHAS will maintain its current operational fleet, which comprises one fixed-wing aircraft and one helicopter. These two assets are critical to sustaining operations in an environment where commercial aviation options are unavailable. Given the closure of the Port-au-Prince commercial airport, the helicopter’s ability to operate from alternative locations, such as the United Nations office-adjacent field in Juvenat, is indispensable.UNHAS Haiti Route Map UNHAS will continue a fully operational mission to enable humanitarian efforts and access in a safe and efficient manner. A Chief Air Transport Officer will lead the mission, supported by essential operational personnel. Ancillary services will be activated to ensure seamless operations. UNHAS is planning to operate daily flights to Petion-Ville and nine additional destinations throughout Haiti. These regular airbridges will ensure vital humanitarian access to communities in need, facilitating the rapid deployment of aid workers, the transport of critical life saving supplies, and the execution of emergency medical evacuations.The flight schedule will be continuously reviewed and adjusted in response to evolving operational needs, ensuring that the service remains responsive and effective during this critical period.About UNHASUNHAS, managed by the World Food Programme, provides passenger and light cargo air transport services, enabling the humanitarian and development community to implement timely and effective responses in emergencies and protracted crises.Currently active with 21 operations globally, UNHAS plays a crucial role in ensuring timely and safe access to populations affected by hunger, conflict, insecurity, climate-related shocks, and health emergencies.Governance & business modelsUNHAS Haiti will continue to adopt a standard UNHAS governance structure. This includes a Steering Committee and a User Group Committee, both meeting regularly according to the WFP Aviation Policy in place. This structure ensures oversight and responsiveness to user needs.Flights in Haiti continue to operate under a partial cost recovery model to ensure ongoing humanitarian access, while limiting costs. Should funding challenges persist, the Steering Committee will revisit this framework and may consider adjustments to increase cost recovery, thereby enhancing long-term sustainability and offsetting a larger share of operational costs.Estimated CostsThe estimated cost to continue operating UNHAS Haiti with 1 fixed wing and 1 Helicopter for 3 months is US$3.9 million. This covers the aircraft, essential staffing, ground handling, and aviation fuel, ensuring a reliable flight schedule.Exit strategyUNHAS flights will be reduced or discontinued when reliable commercial aviation services are available to serve the humanitarian and development community and/or overland access improves.If humanitarian needs decrease, WFP will scale down operations accordingly, reallocating resources, as needed. This ensures a responsible and flexible approach to service termination. ContactsWFP Haiti Country OfficeArmando PUOTI
WFP Chief Air Transport Officer
armando.puoti@wfp.orgRaphael Guevin-Nicoloff | Head of Partnerships & Reporting
raphael.guevinnicoloff@wfp.org
WFP Headquarters ItalyFranklyn FRIMPONG | Chief WFP Aviation Service
franklyn.frimpong@wfp.orgHedley Tembeng TAH | Head of Information Management and External Relations Unit
hedley.tembeng@wfp.org World Food ProgrammeVia Cesare Giulio Viola 68/70,
00148 Rome, Italy - T +39 06 65131
wfp.org, filtered_html
WFP Chief Air Transport Officer
armando.puoti@wfp.orgRaphael Guevin-Nicoloff | Head of Partnerships & Reporting
raphael.guevinnicoloff@wfp.org
WFP Headquarters ItalyFranklyn FRIMPONG | Chief WFP Aviation Service
franklyn.frimpong@wfp.orgHedley Tembeng TAH | Head of Information Management and External Relations Unit
hedley.tembeng@wfp.org World Food ProgrammeVia Cesare Giulio Viola 68/70,
00148 Rome, Italy - T +39 06 65131
wfp.org, filtered_html
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30 August 2024
Haiti: Millions of lives on the brink amid multiple crises
Years of underfunding of humanitarian aid and increasing needs have put millions of Haitians at risk of chronic vulnerability, according to a newly released UN report.Reversing the situation will require the international community and donors to increase the funding of UN and non-governmental organization (NGO) relief operations, the UN humanitarian office, OCHA, said in its latest advocacy note.Growing hunger and needsMonths of violence have led to a deterioration of Haiti’s humanitarian crisis. Displacement has tripled in the last year in Haiti as gang violence continues to rock the Caribbean-island nation, with nearly 600,000 people on the run.“The indiscriminate violence of armed groups and the near collapse of basic services have plunged Haiti into a humanitarian crisis unprecedented since 2010,” OCHA reported, referring to the devasting earthquake that struck the nation 14 years ago.Following the spiralling security situation in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and Artibonite in the north in February, the number of displaced persons has soared by 60 per cent, the report showed, using the latest figures from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) data tracking matrix for Haiti.Collapsing basic servicesThe violence continues to target civilian infrastructure, with only 24 per cent of hospitals remaining operational, OCHA reported. The insecurity has also left 1.5 million children shut out of classrooms.Half of the 578,000 displaced people, desperately fleeing the capital in search of safety, had made their way south, where the vast majority are staying with already economically vulnerable host families.However, basic social services, such as education, health and water, hygiene and sanitation, already insufficient to meet the needs of the local population, have been severely strained, OCHA reported.Forced deportationsMeanwhile, forced repatriations of Haitians from countries in the region is continuing.Indeed, deportations of Haitian nationals even increased, particularly from April onwards, when incidents of violence were at their peak, OCHA reported.In the first seven months of the year, nearly 100,000 people were deported from countries in the region to Haiti, according to data from IOM.‘Wave of violence’The violent clashes between gangs and the authorities have also persisted, even as the multinational security support mission arrived in late June to help Haitian police address the ongoing crisis.“This wave of violence continues to have humanitarian consequences on the populations of the affected neighbourhoods and localities, but also in areas far from the capital which have become host lands for hundreds of thousands of people,” OCHA stated in the report.Almost 300,000 malnutrition cases have been documented, and five million people, about 50 per cent of Haiti’s population, face heightened food insecurity, according to a report earlier this year by a global monitoring group, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).Fears the crisis will spreadThere are fears that the epicentre of the current humanitarian crisis will gradually shift to an increasing number of areas previously spared by insecurity, according to OCHA.At the same time, the current hurricane season is expected to be active and could cause an additional shockwave on the daily lives of Haitians.Haiti is bracing for between four and seven major storms in the months to come. Calls to fill funding gapsAdditional financial resources are urgently needed to meet the increased needs of the Haitian population affected by this multidimensional crisis, OCHA said in its report.Without additional funds, OCHA fears that these crises will continue.Humanitarian concerns abound that food insecurity will continue to spread, hundreds of thousands of out-of-school children will face the risk of recruitment by armed groups and experience “lost years”, growing up without the skills needed for their future and survival, and that half a million vulnerable children and victims of protection incidents will be deprived of mental health services and psychosocial support, according to OCHA.“While humanitarian assistance is a lifeline for many, it is only part of the solution,” the UN agency said.“The government, political and development actors must work together to find lasting solutions to Haiti’s structural challenges,” OCHA said, echoing a call made last month by a joint UN-European Union mission to the country.Eight months into the year, Haiti’s 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan is 33 per cent funded, having received $162.5 million out of $674 million. This article first appeared in UN News., filtered_html
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31 July 2024
Global education fund announces $2.5 million grant for Haiti
A UN-backed global fund that supports education in emergencies will provide $2.5 million to ensure that thousands of children affected by gang violence in Haiti can attend school in safety. Yasmine Sherif, Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait (ECW), announced the grant on Friday in the capital, Port-au-Prince, during a high-level UN mission to the Caribbean country.The aim is to reach nearly 75,000 children and adolescents in the hard-hit departments of Ouest, home to the capital city, and Artibonite.The power of educationMs. Sherif urged world leaders not to turn their backs on the boys and girls of Haiti.“With the power of education, we can protect these girls and boys from the grave risks of sexual violence, forced recruitment in armed groups and other human rights violations,” she said.“With the power of education, we can lift up an entire nation from a never-ending cycle of hunger, poverty, economic uncertainty and violence.”The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will deliver the grant in collaboration with the UN World Food Programme (WFP), and other local and international partners.The funding will support back-to-school incentives, school feeding programmes, early childhood education, disability inclusion, mental health and psychosocial support, cash transfers to families in need, and other support, to enable children’s access to safe learning environments.Dire humanitarian needsHaiti is experiencing unprecedented levels of lawlessness and brutality at the hands of coalitions of armed groups. The situation is compounded by climate change, recurring cyclones and earthquakes, including a devastating one in 2021 that claimed over 2,300 lives and caused severe damage. Nearly half the population, some 5.5 million people, are dependent on humanitarian aid, while five million are facing acute hunger. Nearly 580,000 Haitians are displaced, a 60 per cent increase since the end of February.The armed groups are targeting schools and hospitals, with concerning reports of ruthless forms of sexual violence, including gang rape. They are also accused of forced recruitment of children, with estimates that 30 per cent to 50 per cent of their members could be children.Education crisis unfoldingFurthermore, estimates indicate that 1.2 million school-aged children urgently need quality education.Schools are being closed or used as displacement centres across the country. Around 919 schools are closed in Ouest and Artibonite departments alone, representing 10 per cent of all schools in these areas.“The education crisis unfolding in Haiti is seriously close to becoming an education tragedy,” said Bruno Maes, UNICEF Representative in the country.“While enrolment rates were already low before the latest escalation of violence, school closures and mass displacement are robbing thousands more children of their opportunity to learn.”Expanding investment globallyThe grant brings total ECW funding in Haiti to more than $15.8 million.Despite the urgent needs, ECW said the $30 million requirement for education response in Haiti – part of an overall humanitarian plan for the country - is less than 30 per cent funded, according to the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA.ECW supports quality education for refugee, internally displaced and other crisis-affected children. The fund and partners are calling on world leaders to urgently mobilize an additional $600 million toward its three-year strategic plan.These new resources will allow the fund to expand investments in Haiti and other crisis regions, to reach 20 million girls and boys. This article first appeared in UN News., filtered_html
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26 July 2024
‘Entire social fabric’ unravelling in Haiti as displacement continues
The entire social fabric of families is unraveling in Haiti as displacement in the country reaches record numbers due largely to insecurity and gang-related violence, according to Abdoulaye Sawadogo, head of the UN’s humanitarian coordination office, OCHA, in the Caribbean island nation.The number of people forced to flee their homes has jumped from 362,000 in early March when violence spiked in the capital Port-au-Prince to over 578,000 in June, a 60 per cent increase in just three months.So, what happens in Haiti when people are displaced and how is the UN responding?The first step of any crisis response is assessing the extent of the displacement and responding to the immediate humanitarian needs of the people forced to flee their homes, often at short notice and with few possessions.No aid in the middle of a gunfightOCHA coordinates the response mechanism with the Haitian Government, local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international partners, but it is not a straightforward task in Haiti, according to Mr. Sawadogo.“The violence which has displaced people is the same violence that poses a challenge in responding,” he told UN News. “Aid cannot be delivered in the middle of gunfight.”The UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) works with Haitian NGO partners who have teams on the ground to reach out to people and to find out more about their individual situations. Protecting individualsPeople, especially women and children, are at their most vulnerable when their lives are upended by an event such as fleeing for their lives. They risk violence, sexual assault, exploitation, abuse and family separation. There is also evidence of children being coerced into working for gangs.The UN works to make sure they are protected by supporting the Haitian Government in providing legal documentation and social protection to these people, helping them access services and protection from exploitation and abuse.IOM, the UN sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and such Haitian NGOs as Fondation Toya and Kay Fanm are among the organizations providing psychosocial support to traumatised people, including children.Preparing for displacementOne of the key elements of any response to displacement is being prepared to respond at short notice in often unstable and dangerous environments.Having “financial resources, sufficient staff, access to the places to which people have fled as well as government support” are also crucial, according to Mr. Sawadogo.The logistics of supplying relief aid plays an important part. In June, the World Food Programme (WFP) airlifted more than 55 tonnes of medicines and shelter materials for displaced people as well as for the prepositioning of stock for the hurricane season.The international NGO Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), known as Doctors Without Borders, also airlifted 80 tonnes of medicine to sustain its operations in the capital Port-au-Prince.The assistance provided is situation-specific, but broadly speaking it focuses on health, shelter, food, water and sanitation alongside psychosocial support.Tag team assistanceSince March, the UN has distributed over 21 million litres of water to displaced people in Port-au-Prince, more than 60,000 people had been transferred from WFP’s hot meal programme to its cash-based transfer initiative and thousands of Haitians have received medical aid and psychosocial support.IOM, UNICEF and their local implementing partners have supplied emergency shelter materials and such essential non-food items as blankets, cooking utensils and hygiene kits. They have also ensured access to clean water, sanitation facilities and hygiene promotion to prevent the outbreak of diseases.The UN’s Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/World Health Organization (WHO) and other health agencies have established temporary health facilities, provided medical care and conducted vaccination campaigns.Last month, UNICEF also bolstered its presence in Léogâne to the west of Port-au-Prince where some 33,000 people fled following an outbreak of gang violence in May. The agency reported that two thirds of these displaced people were women and children. The influx of people has put immense pressure on local education, health and other essential services.“We could do more if we had more resources,” said Mr. Sawadogo. “However, this year’s humanitarian appeal for $674 million, seven months into the year, is less than 25 per cent funded, which poses a challenge.” Unravelling social fabricAccording to IOM, nationally, 80 per cent of displaced people are living with host families while the remaining are sheltering in makeshift sites, many in gang-controlled or high-risk areas. In the south of the country, the agency estimates that 99 per cent of those displaced live with host families.Many people are unable or unwilling to go home and may stay in temporary sites for extended periods.As a result, “the entire social fabric of families is unravelling as family members become separated, jobs are lost, schools are closed and health services collapse,” said OCHA’s Mr. Sawadogo.In these situations, the UN has focused on providing longer term support to ensure that, for example, children go to school. In some cases, livelihood programmes to help displaced people regain their self-sufficiency are provided. These can include vocational training and income-generating activities as well as seeds, tools and training for farmers. Returning homeThe ultimate goal is to facilitate the return of displaced people to their homes as long it is safe and they are willing.In cases where return is not possible, the UN assists those displaced in the new locations where they have settled.“Each crisis comes with its own specificities, its own trauma,” Mr. Sawadogo said. “Regardless of the crisis, we aim to be as fast as possible to provide aid and assistance to those who need it and help them to return to their normal lives.”Find out more about how the UN is helping here. This article first appeared in UN News., filtered_html
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02 July 2024
Haiti: Violence displaces one child every minute, reports UNICEF
Continued violence and instability in Haiti has resulted in the displacement of over 300,000 children, with an estimated one child being displaced every minute since March, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director, highlighted the horrific impact of violence on children and adolescents.“The humanitarian catastrophe unfolding before our eyes is taking a devastating toll on children. Displaced children are in desperate need of a safe and protective environment, and increased support and funding from the international community,” she said.Across the country, an estimated three million children are in need of humanitarian assistance, against a backdrop of years of political turmoil, widespread poverty, rampant disease and multiple disasters.Facing heightened risksDisplaced children in Haiti face heightened risks of violence, including sexual assault, exploitation, abuse and family separation. Their access to essential services such as safe spaces, healthcare, and clean water and sanitation is severely disrupted.Poor hygiene conditions in camps and makeshift settlements increase their susceptibility to diseases like cholera, while school closures and economic constraints driven by the violence have forced many children to abandon their education.Furthermore, with few other means of survival or protection, children are increasingly forced to join armed groups – a clear violation of their rights and a breach of international law, UNICEF stressed.Dangers continue to growCompounding these challenges, devastating hazards wreaking havoc across the country.Haiti’s National Emergency Operations Center has warned of a “hyperactive” cyclone season, further threatening the already vulnerable displaced population. Last month, a tornado in Bassin Bleu, Northwest Department, destroyed the homes of 650 children.The crippled healthcare system that was barely able to cope with demand before the latest escalation of violence will have to contend with a rainy season that is expected to continue to worsen the situation, threatening to spike water-borne diseases, UNICEF warned.“The needs in Haiti continue to grow, alongside the dangers for children,” Ms. Russell said, adding that everyone has a role to play to change the trajectory, and ensure that children are protected, have education and can access basic services.“Children should not be paying with their lives and their futures for a crisis created by adults,” she said. This article first appeared in UN News., filtered_html
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Press Release
07 April 2025
At least 262 people killed over two months in brutal attacks in Kenscoff, on the heights of Port-au-Prince
"The information collected and verified by our teams following a thorough investigation establish that the attacks against Kenscoff were extremely brutal to create panic among the population", said the Special Representative of the Secretary General in Haiti and Head of BINUH, Maria Isabel Salvador.Men, women and children were executed inside their homes, while others were shot on the roads and paths while trying to escape. The bodies of the victims were then burned. Sexual violence, particularly rape, was also committed against women and young girls. Around 200 homes were destroyed or set on fire and more than 3,000 people had to flee.Criminal groups have carried out these attacks in order to extend their control over the mountainous localities of Kenscoff, in order to destabilize the municipality of Pétion-Ville. By extending their influence on this area, the criminal groups and those who support them would also seek to further weaken the authorities in place.On the first day of the attacks, January 27, Haitian security forces were deployed with delay. However, after that and despite limited means and personnel operating on several fronts across the capital, they have gradually strengthened their presence in the municipality of Kenscoff, with the support of the Multinational Security Support Mission.This deployment managed to slow down the progress of criminal groups but has not yet allowed to restore public order.The latest attacks were recorded in the municipality of Kenscoff between March 24 and 27, thus demonstrating the continued presence of criminal groups and their ability to install numerous cells in the area. Since the beginning of the confrontations, four members of the security forces have been killed and four others have been wounded. A member of the MSSM was also injured.Since the beginning of the attacks, State services, including the National Directorate of Potable Water and Sanitation (DINEPA), United Nations agencies and several national and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have provided humanitarian assistance and protective measures for those affected by this violence.However, these initiatives remain insufficient considering the needs and psychological trauma experienced by survivors, especially children, who have been victims or direct witnesses of extreme violence, including sexual violence.The report also contains recommendations to both the Haitian authorities and the international community to contribute to improving the security situation and supporting the security forces.The process of collecting data for this investigation followed a rigorous documentation and verification methodology, accurately identifying the sequence of events that occurred in Kenscoff, with attacks carried out in six stages, clearly detailed in the report published today.------Contact: Mathias Gillmann, Spokesperson, BINUH; E-mail: gillmann@un.org, filtered_html
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Press Release
12 March 2025
Press statement by William O'Neill, UN expert on the human rights situation in Haiti
Hello everyone, thank you for being here.I am just back from Haiti where I was on a field mission to take stock of the human rights situation. This was my fourth visit since my appointment by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights two years ago.This brief stay enabled me to assess the situation, not only how serious it is, but also and above all, above all, the pain and despair of an entire population. Suffering permeates all social strata, especially the most vulnerable. Despite the efforts of the Haitian National Police (PNH) and the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission, the risk of the capital falling under gang control is palpable.These violent criminal groups continue to extend and consolidate their hold beyond the capital. They kill, rape, terrorize, set fire to homes, orphanages, schools, hospitals, places of worship, recruit children and infiltrate all spheres of society. All this, with the utmost impunity and sometimes, as many sources point out, with the complicity of powerful actors.The testimonies we received speak for themselves and need no comment.*P., aged 16, survived the worst. “Seven masked gunmen broke into my home in Kenscoff, raped and beat me and my stepmother. Then they killed my father in front of me. The pain is excruciating. Sometimes I forget it, then it comes back. At night, I scream”. In the meantime, she says she “dances” and “dreams of being a psychologist for young survivors,” like herself. The young girl has been housed in a refuge for a few weeks. According to civil society, violence exacerbates all needs. There are not enough resources to take care of all the victims.“I just want to go back to the street,” concluded 12-year-old L., a child forcibly recruited by gangs. He is currently incarcerated at the Centre de Rééducation des Mineurs in Port-au-Prince and accused of association with the gangs. “I don't want any more bandits in my country. Later, I'll be a pilot,” he added.The violence has internally displaced over a million people (IDPs), and thousands more have been displaced just in recent weeks. They have nowhere to go. Students recently threw stones at IDPs attempting to occupy their school.. The desperate turning against the more desperate. In the makeshift camps, hunger and sexual violence are widespread. For many, it's a matter of survival.Unity and solidarity must guide political action at all levels, in the interests of the population.They must be the guiding principles for all Haitian actors, , in order to ensure security, the primacy of justice and the survival of the State. The fight against impunity and corruption are major obstacles to the dismantling of gangs. The Haitian State must therefore make the fight against these two scourges an absolute priority. The fight against gangs must be conducted in strict compliance with international human rights law, particularly the right to life. No circumstances, however exceptional, can justify the violation of this fundamental right.The international community, for its part, must act without delay to implement the commitments it has made, particularly with regard to the sanctions regime, the arms embargo, and the substantial reinforcement of multinational security support, in compliance with international human rights law.There is not a day to lose. There is no alternative. Haiti's survival is at stake.*Names withheld to protect the identity of victims. For more information and media requests, please contactIn New York
Laura Gelbert + 1 917 208 6656 / gelbert@un.orgIn Geneva
Liz Throssell + 41 22 917 9296 / elizabeth.throssell@un.org, filtered_html
Laura Gelbert + 1 917 208 6656 / gelbert@un.orgIn Geneva
Liz Throssell + 41 22 917 9296 / elizabeth.throssell@un.org, filtered_html
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Press Release
26 November 2024
Number of children in Haiti recruited by armed groups soars by 70 per cent in one year – UNICEF
PORT AU PRINCE/NEW YORK, 25 November 2024 – The number of children recruited by armed groups in Haiti increased by 70 per cent in the last year, according to the latest UNICEF estimates.The unprecedented spike, registered between the second quarters of 2023 and 2024, points to a worsening protection crisis for children in the violence-plagued Caribbean Island. At present, up to half of all members in armed groups are children.“Children in Haiti are trapped in a vicious cycle—recruited into the very armed groups that are fueling their desperation, and the numbers are growing,” said UNICEF Executive Director and Inter Agency Standing Committee Principal Advocate for Haiti, Catherine Russell. “This unacceptable trend must be reversed by ensuring children’s safety and welfare are prioritized by all parties.”The rise in child recruitment by armed groups has been fueled by escalating violence, pervasive poverty, lack of education, and near collapse of critical infrastructure and social services in Haiti. Children are often coerced into joining to support their families, or under threats to their safety. Many are recruited after being separated from their caretakers, stripped of protection and survival options.Meanwhile, children living in the increasingly diminishing number of areas outside the control of armed groups are often viewed with suspicion, and risk being branded as spies or even killed by vigilante movements. When they defect or refuse to join the violence, their lives and safety are immediately at risk.“Children in many parts of Haiti are subjected to atrocities no child should ever have to experience, leaving them with psychological and emotional scars that might haunt them for a lifetime,” added Russell. “Chaos and horror have become part of daily life.”In the capital Port-au- Prince, 1.2 million children live under the threat of armed violence. An estimated 25 per cent of all 703,000 internally displaced persons in the country – 365,000 children – are currently in the city living under very dire conditions and exposed to multiple threats.Sexual assault and rape have become rampant in Haiti. According to the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, the number of children exposed to sexual violence skyrocketed tenfold this year alone.In 2024, UNICEF has reached over 25,000 people with services and support related to sexual and gender-based violence, including multi-sectoral case management, psychosocial support, and community sensitization.In response to the protection crisis facing children recruited by armed groups or at risk of recruitment in Haiti, UNICEF has trained security forces and civil society organizations on child protection measures to safeguard their rights.In addition, UNICEF has provided interim care for children previously associated with armed groups, offering psychosocial support, food, and family tracing and reunification services.UNICEF is urging all parties in Haiti, including security forces and the government, to:Prioritizethe safety and protection of all children and ensure they are treated as children first and foremost, taking every measure to avoid further killing and injuring of children, including those recruited.Support the immediate release of children recruited by armed groups and their immediate handover to civilian child protection actors for their recovery and reintegration.Ensure the rights and protection of all children in Haiti are at the core of any present and future agendas. Children must be protected from recruitment, sexual violence, and other forms of violence, and have safe access to basic services, including education, health, nutrition, and child protection.###Notes for Editors: Recruitment and use of children by armed groups, as well as sexual exploitation and abuse, constitute grave violations of their rights. Enlisting children of any age into armed groups is a breach of international law. All children encountered during security operations should be handed over to state led child protection actors, in line with the Child Handover Protocol for the release and reintegration of children associated with armed groups that was validated by the state, UN agencies and civil society organizations last year. This is to ensure that children actually or allegedly associated with armed groups, including those accused of having committed crimes, are primarily regarded as victims of violations of international law or abuses, rather than as perpetrators of such offenses, consistent with relevant international law. About UNICEFUNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.Follow UNICEF on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube This article first appeared in UNICEF, filtered_html
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Press Release
20 November 2024
The United Nations and their humanitarian partners are providing lifesaving assistance to thousands of Haitians affected by armed violence.
“Despite the temporary suspension of air transport, humanitarian operations continue actively in the Port-au-Prince area, although security conditions are unpredictable. In addition, humanitarian and recovery activities continue uninterrupted in the rest of the country,” said Ulrika Richardson, Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti.Since 11 November, UNICEF has provided cash transfers to nearly 1,500 displaced people in sites in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area and distributed 5,000 hygiene kits to more than 24,000 people. UNFPA and IOM continue to deploy their mobile clinics in IDP sites. IOM is also providing water to six IDP sites. On 17 November, WFP provided hot meals to nearly 38,000 displaced people in 26 sites in Port-au-Prince and Arcahaie, the highest number in a single day.PAHO/WHO continues to support the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) with the distribution of medicines and medical supplies to major health facilities.Across the country, WFP is also feeding 430,000 children daily in 2,000 schools, while IOM and its partners are responding to the growing population of forced returnees, including support for more than 35,000 people who have been forcibly returned since 1 October. In Grande Anse and Nippes, FAO is supporting farmers with the distribution of short-cycle vegetable seed kits, tools and compost. In Saint Marc in Artibonite, 4,217 children are benefiting from child-friendly spaces set up by UNICEF.“To keep our operations running at scale, additional financial resources are urgently needed or we risk having to make impossible choices to save lives,” adds Ulrika Richardson.The US $674 million Humanitarian Response Plan, which aims to provide multi-sectoral assistance to 3.6 million people, is only 43% funded.The United Nations remains fully engaged in the humanitarian response, working with authorities and local actors to ensure rapid and effective assistance despite security challenges.For further information, please call:Claire Emmanuelle Pressoir, Communications Officer, claire.pressoir@un.org +50939028851 HTTPS://ReliefWeb.in/country/hti/OCHA press releases are available at http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.int.Humanitarian News are also available via WhatsApp channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va9ta4865yDKzOB9wI37, filtered_html
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Press Release
22 November 2024
Winnie BYANYIMA, Executive Director of UNAIDS and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations paid a solidarity visit to Haiti.
During her mission, Ms Byanyima praised the remarkable progress made by Haiti in its response to HIV despite a challenging context. Haiti is making good progress towards achieving the 95-95-95 treatment targets for 2030, with 87% of people living with HIV diagnosed, 96% of those on treatment, and 85% of people on treatment attained viral suppression. Since 2010, the number of new HIV infections has decreased by 34% and the number of HIV-related deaths by 75%. Community-based civil society organizations, supported by PEPFAR and Global Fund investments, have played a crucial role in these achievements through innovative and agile service delivery approaches. She praised the determination and resilience of the proud Haitians who continue to inspire the world despite the crisis during dialogues with community-based organizations."This is the first time I visit a country with a network of 26 organizations of people living with HIV. Behind each of them are brave people who are fighting stigma and demanding full enjoyment of their rights," stated Winnie Byanyima.
She also said that women's voices are essential in the search for better strategies for peace and security, as well as for the protection of vulnerable groups, including PLHIV, and to advance the fight against gender-based violence. "Too often, women are excluded, and I will carry your voice wherever I go."She was also able to realize the current challenges faced due to the security and humanitarian crisis that affects health infrastructures and services for people living with HIV. Expressing solidarity with those affected by the insecurity caused by gangs, particularly in the West and Artibonite departments, Ms. Byanyima expressed her concern over the daily deaths and sexual violence against vulnerable populations."I had the privilege of hearing directly from the women's movement in Haiti about the challenges related to gender equality and gender-based violence and how UNAIDS and its partners can support them," expressed Ms Byanyima. Women's voices in questioning the peace and security strategy are essential; our efforts must also prioritize the fight against violence towards women and girls, and this is important within the UN system."
Winnie Byanyima had the opportunity to meet with the transitional authorities, including members of the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT), as well as the Prime Minister, some members of the government, the diplomatic corps and technical and financial partners. Meetings during which she stressed the urgent need to address current gangs related insecurity in Haiti, advocating for political stability to avoid loss of progress to HIV response in the country, to improve security, to ensure access to humanitarian aid, to establish a climate conducive to dialogues which include women’s involvement in political governance and socio-economic empowerment, among others. "The international community must mobilize to support the Haitian people in their efforts to restore stability and ensure that HIV remains a priority on the global political agenda," according to the UNAIDS Executive Director. She also reiterated the United Nations' support to continuing advocacy for the mobilization of resources to fight HIV/AIDS worldwide, and particularly in Haiti.The mission was attended by Ms. María Isabel Salvador, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), as well as Ms. Ingeborg Ulrika Ulfsdotter Richardson, United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti. To learn more about UNAIDS, visit our website UNAIDS, and follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
Contacts :
Daniel de Castro │ UNAIDS Latin America and the Caribbean│ decastrod@unaids.org │ +507 6998 3175
Christian Mouala │ UNAIDS Haiti │moualac@unaids.org │ +5094777190, filtered_html
She also said that women's voices are essential in the search for better strategies for peace and security, as well as for the protection of vulnerable groups, including PLHIV, and to advance the fight against gender-based violence. "Too often, women are excluded, and I will carry your voice wherever I go."She was also able to realize the current challenges faced due to the security and humanitarian crisis that affects health infrastructures and services for people living with HIV. Expressing solidarity with those affected by the insecurity caused by gangs, particularly in the West and Artibonite departments, Ms. Byanyima expressed her concern over the daily deaths and sexual violence against vulnerable populations."I had the privilege of hearing directly from the women's movement in Haiti about the challenges related to gender equality and gender-based violence and how UNAIDS and its partners can support them," expressed Ms Byanyima. Women's voices in questioning the peace and security strategy are essential; our efforts must also prioritize the fight against violence towards women and girls, and this is important within the UN system."
Winnie Byanyima had the opportunity to meet with the transitional authorities, including members of the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT), as well as the Prime Minister, some members of the government, the diplomatic corps and technical and financial partners. Meetings during which she stressed the urgent need to address current gangs related insecurity in Haiti, advocating for political stability to avoid loss of progress to HIV response in the country, to improve security, to ensure access to humanitarian aid, to establish a climate conducive to dialogues which include women’s involvement in political governance and socio-economic empowerment, among others. "The international community must mobilize to support the Haitian people in their efforts to restore stability and ensure that HIV remains a priority on the global political agenda," according to the UNAIDS Executive Director. She also reiterated the United Nations' support to continuing advocacy for the mobilization of resources to fight HIV/AIDS worldwide, and particularly in Haiti.The mission was attended by Ms. María Isabel Salvador, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), as well as Ms. Ingeborg Ulrika Ulfsdotter Richardson, United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti. To learn more about UNAIDS, visit our website UNAIDS, and follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
Contacts :
Daniel de Castro │ UNAIDS Latin America and the Caribbean│ decastrod@unaids.org │ +507 6998 3175
Christian Mouala │ UNAIDS Haiti │moualac@unaids.org │ +5094777190, filtered_html
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