By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – UN warned on Tuesday that over 6000 people in Haiti have been forced from their homes by gang violence in a month, hampered aid efforts by humanitarian agencies.
UN relief agencies said that since the end of January, a wave of extreme brutality has led to widespread loss of life and the displacement of over 6,000 people in the capital, Port-au-Prince.
“We are deeply alarmed and appalled by the unacceptable and inhumane intensity of violence in Haiti,” the Haiti Humanitarian Country Team, which is made up of UN agencies, national and international NGOs and donors, said in a statement.
The entire families were killed in their homes, while others, including children and babies, were shot dead as they tried to escape.
The killings follow a massacre last December, when an outbreak of violence in the commune of Cité Soleil in Port-au-Prince led to the execution of more than 200 people by the Wharf Jérémie gang.
According to the UN, the daily life of many Haitians is marked by violence, fear, exhaustion, hunger, disease and an uncertain future. Women, girls and children are increasingly at risk, particularly that of sexual violence.
By the end of 2024, violence had claimed the lives of at least 5,600 Haitians and displaced more than a million.
Humanitarian Coordinator Ulrika Richardson said “We condemn in the strongest possible terms any attack against the civilian population and infrastructure, in this case the one that targeted the hospital of the State University of Haiti on February 13. These acts violate human rights and deprive the most vulnerable of essential vital services”.
The humanitarian community is showing its determination to continue providing life-saving assistance to millions of children, women and men in vulnerable situations.
Beyond immediate humanitarian assistance, the agencies are also committed to coordinating efforts with development and peace building actors, so that these collective efforts contribute to sustainable solutions that build community resilience.
“The mobilization actions of the international community in favour of Haiti will continue in order to guarantee the necessary funding to meet urgent needs and restore the dignity of the affected people,” she stressed.
UN appealed for $908 million to help some 3.9 million Haitians facing food insecurity, in a country where basic services are nearing collapse, has been launched by the UN.
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs released the 2025 humanitarian response plan on 19 February, which focuses on addressing acute needs caused by recent events, including armed violence, forced displacement, epidemics, and the consequences of natural disasters.
The funding is earmarked to tackle Haiti’s profound challenges, including mobile teams to help humanitarians deliver aid, protection against sexual exploitation and abuse, and programmes aimed at supporting the country’s long-term development.
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