Displacement crises in Haiti and Democratic Republic of the<

Displacement crises have escalated significantly in Haiti and the Democratic Republic of the Congo due to ongoing violence. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United Nations reported over 312,900 displaced persons in the Ituri region as of August 2026, driven by armed group violence and clashes between the FARDC and M23 rebels. This region also faced a cholera outbreak during the same period.

In Haiti, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that internal displacement exceeded 1,466,862 people in August 2026. Gang-related violence, including massacres in Kenskoff, has been a primary driver of movement. While much of the crisis was previously concentrated in the capital, nearly 80% of displaced persons are now located outside of Port-au-Prince as violence spreads to regions like the Artibonite department.

Elise Verron, the IOM's chief emergency coordinator, stated that the situation is not transitioning from emergency to recovery, as violence, food insecurity, forced returns, and climate risks such as hurricanes and flooding are occurring simultaneously. Additionally, there has been a rise in forced returns to Haiti, with August 2026 marking the highest monthly figure since 2021.