The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is concerned about the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Haiti, after around a month of siege imposed by armed gangs in Port-au-Prince.
The upsurge in violence since February has reached unprecedented levels, leading to a deterioration in food security and multiple displacements.
As despair grows, families struggle to obtain basic necessities, according to the UN agency IOM.
Philippe Branchat, head of the IOM in Haiti, underlined the difficulties encountered by humanitarian staff in providing assistance in a context of escalating crisis.
“While providing assistance was easier in the aftermath of the earthquakes, today the task is increasingly difficult,” said Branchat. “Humanitarian staff face unprecedented security challenges, reconciling the imperative to help others with the harsh realities of personal risk and displacement.”
The crisis extends beyond Port-au-Prince, affecting communities across Haiti and leaving more than 360,000 people displaced across the country, many of them several times over. Living conditions for some 100,000 internally displaced people in camps are deplorable, exacerbating their suffering. Urgent needs include access to food, healthcare, water, psychological support and hygiene facilities, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
In the midst of the turmoil, Haiti’s already struggling economy has deteriorated further. IOM’s psychosocial team has encountered cases of suicidal tendencies, which were once a taboo subject but are now more often revealed, particularly among displaced populations, IOM revealed in a statement.
The lack of economic opportunities, coupled with the collapse of the healthcare system and the closure of schools, has prompted many people to consider migration as their only viable recourse.
However, irregular migration remains their only semblance of hope, as regular migration routes are hampered by challenges such as the arduous process of obtaining passports, deplores the UN agency.
The IOM also deplored the fact that despite the worsening security situation, neighboring countries forcibly returned 13,000 migrants to Haiti in March, a 46% increase on the previous month.
On arrival, almost 3,000 migrants received humanitarian aid and a further 1,200 received psychosocial support.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, IOM is committed to supporting the Haitian authorities in issuing essential documents.
This includes facilitating the process of obtaining passports, which can take months or even over a year.
IOM’s dedication to facilitating safe and orderly migration routes for all remains unwavering, despite the difficulties.
IOM and its partners have been delivering aid to the areas where it is most needed.
In March, over 1.5 million liters of water were delivered to sites hosting internally displaced persons, reaching more than 23,500 people. Essential items such as blankets, water jerry cans, solar lamps and cooking utensils have been distributed to over 18,000 people, IOM said in a statement.
In addition to providing basic medical services, IOM’s humanitarian response includes on-site psychosocial support through group counseling and individual psychotherapy sessions. A toll-free telephone line is also available to internally displaced persons (IDPs) who need help or wish to raise issues.
The organization is actively collecting and disseminating vital information on population movements, in order to constantly assess the needs of the most vulnerable people.
As the humanitarian crisis in Haiti worsens, IOM continues to work tirelessly alongside its partners to provide crucial aid and support to those affected.
However, the situation remains dire, and immediate international attention and assistance are needed to alleviate the suffering of the Haitian people and address the underlying causes of the unprecedented crisis.