The security crisis in Port-au-Prince is worsening. Since February 14, 2025, an escalation of armed violence has plunged the Haitian capital and its surroundings into chaos. According to a report published by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on February 27, nearly 12,971 people have been forced to flee their homes. This dire situation is a direct consequence of clashes between criminal groups terrorizing several neighborhoods in the metropolitan area.
Due to the intensity of the attacks, around 13,000 residents have been forced into exile, abandoning their homes and belongings to seek safety. The majority of the displaced (62%) are concentrated in the commune of Port-au-Prince, which has become the epicenter of this humanitarian crisis. The violence particularly affects several strategic areas of the Haitian capital, including Codada – Delmas 30, Carrefour-Feuilles, Cargo, Métivier, Corvette, and Tabarre 27, among others.
As the violence escalates, residents are fleeing to makeshift shelters. Nearly half of the displaced have found refuge with relatives, while the other half is being housed in 31 temporary shelters. Among these shelters, four new sites have been opened to accommodate victims of the crisis, while two have been closed, further worsening the situation for those affected.
The rapid increase in the number of displaced persons is putting significant strain on shelter infrastructure, leaving many families in extreme hardship without access to essential services such as clean water, food, or medical care.
This new wave of violence highlights the Haitian authorities’ inability to curb the growing influence of gangs, which are seizing control of more and more territory. The current security situation exacerbates an already alarming humanitarian crisis, marked by increasing insecurity that makes movement difficult, a shortage of food and healthcare services, and an economy weakened by political instability and crime.
In response to this humanitarian catastrophe, local and international organizations are urging authorities to take immediate action to protect the population and ensure access to basic services. Meanwhile, Haitians are waiting for concrete measures to curb this cycle of violence and restore security in the capital.