The number of people forced to flee their homes has risen from 362,000 in early March, when violence flared in the capital Port-au-Prince, to more than 578,000 in June, a 60 percent increase in just three months.
What happens in Haiti when people are displaced and how does the UN respond?
The first step in any crisis response is to map the scale of displacement and respond to the immediate humanitarian needs of those forced to flee their homes, often at short notice and with few possessions.
No help during a firefight
OCHA coordinates the response mechanism with the Haitian government, local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international partners, but according to Mr. Sawadogo, this is not an easy task in Haiti.
“The violence that has displaced people is the same violence that poses a challenge in responding to this,” he said. UN News“Help cannot be delivered during a firefight.”
The UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) is working with Haitian NGO partners who have teams on the ground to reach people and learn more about their individual situations.
© UNOCHA
About 80 percent of the displaced live with host families, while the rest find shelter in makeshift camps.
Protecting individuals
People, especially women and children, are most vulnerable when their lives are turned upside down by an event such as fleeing for their lives. They risk violence, sexual abuse, exploitation, abuse and separation from the family. There is also evidence of children being forced into gang work.
The UN is ensuring that these people are protected by supporting the Haitian government in providing legal documentation and social protection to these people, as well as helping them access services and protection from exploitation and abuse.
IOM, the UN agency for sexual and reproductive health, UN-FPAthe UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Haitian NGOs such as Fondation Toya and Kay Fanm are among the organizations that provide psychosocial support to traumatized people, including children.
Preparing for relocation
One of the most important elements of any response to displacement is preparation to respond at short notice, often in unstable and dangerous environments.
According to Sawadogo, “financial resources, sufficient staff, access to the places where people have fled and government support” are also crucial.
The logistics of delivering emergency aid play a key role. In June, the World Food Programme (World Food Programme) has airlifted more than 55 tons of medicines and shelter supplies for displaced people, as well as stockpiling supplies for the hurricane season.
The international NGO Doctors Without Borders (MSF), better known as Doctors Without Borders, also flew in 80 tons of medicines to continue its activities in the capital, Port-au-Prince.
The assistance provided is situation-specific, but broadly focuses on health, shelter, food, water and sanitation, in addition to psychosocial support.
Tag team assistance
Since March, the UN has distributed more than 21 million liters of water to displaced people in Port-au-Prince, more than 60,000 people have been transferred from WFP’s hot meals program to the cash payment initiative, and thousands of Haitians have received medical assistance and psychosocial support.
IOM, UNICEF and their local implementation partners have provided emergency shelters and essential non-food items such as blankets, cooking utensils and hygiene kits. They have also ensured access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene promotion to prevent disease outbreaks.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/UN World Health Organization (WHO) and other health authorities have set up temporary health facilities, provided medical care and carried out vaccination campaigns.
Last month, UNICEF also stepped up its presence in Léogâne, west of Port-au-Prince, where some 33,000 people fled after an outbreak of gang violence in May. The agency said two-thirds of those displaced were women and children. The influx of people has put enormous strain on local education, health care and other essential services.
“We could do more if we had more resources,” Mr. Sawadogo said. “But this year’s humanitarian appeal for $674 million, seven months into the year, is less than 25 percent funded, which is a challenge.”
Unraveling the social fabric
According to IOMNationally, 80 percent of displaced people live with host families, while the rest find shelter in makeshift sites, many in gang-controlled or high-risk areas. In the south of the country, the agency estimates that 99 percent of displaced people live with host families.
Many people cannot or do not want to return home and sometimes stay in temporary locations for extended periods of time.
As a result, “the entire social fabric of families is breaking down, family members are separated, jobs are lost, schools are closed and health services collapse,” OCHA’s Sawadogo said.
In these situations, the UN has focused on providing longer-term support to ensure, for example, that children go to school. In some cases, livelihood programs are offered to help displaced people regain their self-reliance. These can include vocational training and income-generating activities, as well as seeds, tools and training for farmers.
© UNOCHA
Thousands of Haitians have fled violence in gang-controlled areas, seeking safety and shelter elsewhere in the country.
Returning home
The ultimate goal is to facilitate the return of displaced people to their homes, as long as it is safe and they wish to do so.
In cases where return is not possible, the UN assists displaced people in the new locations where they have resettled.
“Every crisis has its own specific characteristics, its own trauma,” Mr. Sawadogo said. “Whatever the crisis, we strive to provide help and assistance as quickly as possible to those who need it and help them return to their normal lives.”
Find out more about how the UN helps here.