Haiti faces 1.5 million displaced as gang violence spreads, IOM reports

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that nearly 1.5 million people have been forced to flee their homes in Haiti as armed gang violence expands beyond its traditional hotspots. The displacement now affects the central, north‑west and southern regions of the country, including previously considered safe neighborhoods in Port‑au‑Prince.

In May, more than 18,000 residents left the Sitre Soleil slum in the capital, and about 5,000 were displaced from a northeastern department in recent weeks. Many of the uprooted seek refuge in overcrowded camps or already vulnerable host communities. The IOM warned that the influx of people, combined with the start of the Atlantic cyclone season, raises the risk of floods and further humanitarian deterioration. The agency also highlighted funding shortfalls, stating, “Without continuous support beyond October, our ability to respond will be seriously questioned.”