Haiti Emergency Situation Report No. 21 (As of 3 May 2024) – Haiti

This report is produced by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Haiti in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It covers the humanitarian situation in Port-au-Prince following the violence that broke out on 29 February. The report covers the period from 25 April to 3 May 2024. HIGHLIGHTS

• In a statement issued on 3 May, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Dr. Natalia Kanem stressed the urgent need for sustainable protection solutions in Haiti that address the rights and needs of women, girls and all civilians.

• The persistent rise in market prices is exacerbating households’ vulnerability, making it increasingly challenging for them to obtain food and other essential items.

• Humanitarian partners have already provided assistance to more than 36,000 people in the Health sector in 22 sites for internally displaced people (IDPs).

• The Humanitarian Response Plan is now 15 per cent funded, an increase of 7 per cent since the previous week. However, given the scale and urgency of the humanitarian needs, a more sustained effort is needed from the international community.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Armed violence continues to disrupt security in Port-au-Prince. On 2 May, an armed attack in the Delmas commune forced more than 3,700 people to relocate. In its latest displacement update for the Port-au-Prince Metropolitan Area (ZMPAP), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimated that more than 90,000 people have been displaced since February.

Food insecurity across the country has worsened and is likely to deteriorate further with rising transportation costs and logistical challenges in moving goods. The average cost of a food basket has risen by 23 percent since January 2024.

Households are increasingly struggling with the consequences of price hikes. Since the start of April, 33 per cent of households have reported experiencing an economic shock, such as increases in basic goods or fuel prices or job loss, making it difficult to access market products. Additionally, 94 per cent of households do not have food stocks and buy their food daily.

Port-au-Prince’s most flood-prone communes are also among those most affected by insecurity and the lack of adequate infrastructure for managing wastewater and waste. This situation has caused significant damage, including thousands of destroyed homes and public infrastructure and livestock losses, which then affects the food security and livelihoods of families reliant on animal farming. Humanitarian partners have mobilized to support canal cleaning and hygiene awareness efforts. Affected communities urgently need shelters, hygiene kits, and drinking water.
Due to armed attacks and looting of health care facilities, more than half of Port-au-Prince’s hospitals are operating below their normal capacity. These attacks on hospitals not only violate international humanitarian standards, they also reduce the chances of saving lives.

Between 22 and 28 April, 19 suspected cholera cases and 7 COVID-19 cases were recorded at IDP sites, thanks to support from the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO). However, it is important to note that the number of suspected cholera cases has decreased across the country. The Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP), in collaboration with PAHO/WHO, continues proactive and reactive surveillance to prevent a new outbreak of the disease in at-risk areas, including IDP sites.