Haiti: Complex Emergency – DREF Operation (MDRHT021) – Haiti

Description of the Event

Date when the trigger was met

2024-05-02

What happened, where and when?

Armed violence continues to disrupt security in Port-au-Prince. According to the latest situation report No. 21 issued by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), on 2 May, an armed attack in the Delmas commune forced more than 3,700 people to relocate.

The urgency of the humanitarian crisis in Haiti was highlighted in the latest displacement update for the Metropolitan Area of Port-au-Prince by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). According to the report, since 8 March, movements of 95,000 people leaving the Metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince have been observed, indicating a concerning increase of 41,696 internally displaced persons in a period of ten days, between 27 March and 9 April, in the Metropolitan Area of Port-au-Prince. This report underscores the rapid deterioration of conditions, reflecting the escalation of violence and instability that have gripped the country since late February 2024, displacing a total of 362,500 Haitians as of 9 April.

Since 29 February 2024, two of the major coalitions of armed gangs, have risen up and launched attacks against public infrastructure, including police stations, as well as private institutions in several communes of the Ouest department, notably the capital, Port-au-Prince.

The damage caused by these attacks is considerable, with consequences at multiple levels. During these violent events, at least 21 commercial establishments, small and medium-sized enterprises, and nine police stations and sub-police stations were vandalized and/or set on fire. Between 30 and 40 people were killed in the sole commune of Pétion-Ville. Some were killed by police bullets in exchanges of fire, others were likely lynched by a popular movement and others were innocent collateral victims of urban confrontations.

The gangs continue to perpetrate violence with kidnappings and gunfire against the population at large, as well as conducting attacks against the police and key infrastructures as the international airport of Port-au-Prince that has been closed since 4 March. There have also been several attempted attacks against the presidential palace, which were thwarted by the security forces. Reports of heightened gang violence exacerbating food insecurity have increased, a situation dire enough that even essential services like healthcare and clean water access were heavily compromised.

The Government of the Republic, referring to the Decree of 3 April 2024, established a state of emergency throughout the extent of the Ouest department for a period of one month, from 4 April to 3 May 2024. The political climate remains tense after the decree of 12 April officially establishing the Transitional Presidential Council. The nine political entities and civil groups that have chosen representatives for this council criticized a public declaration. They claim that the current Council of Ministers made significant changes to it, which, according to them, distorts the agreement reached between the parties on 11 March. On 16 April, the government officially announced in the Official Gazette the names of the seven voting members and two non-voting members of the Council.

Haiti’s transitional council has nominated Fritz Belizaire as the new Prime Minister of the country on 30 April. This council is also tasked with appointing a cabinet and an electoral council, which should pave the way for Haiti’s first general elections since 2016. However, internal squabbles on the panel have delayed the process. Tensions concerning the PM’s selections are reported to be threatening to dissolve the council already.

The crisis in Haiti has severely impacted various areas within Metropolitan Port-au-Prince, which are currently facing a serious multisectoral crisis exacerbated by the escalation of violence, political instability, and environmental challenges. The arrival of the rainy season has increased the risk of floods, particularly affecting displaced persons and those living in disadvantaged areas. This environmental challenge worsens the disastrous conditions faced by displaced persons due to violence, thus increasing the complexity of the necessary humanitarian response.