UNHCR calls for continued international solidarity to address displacement and insecurity in Haiti

Press releases

UNHCR calls for continued international solidarity to address displacement and insecurity in Haiti

4 October 2024

An aerial view of a neighbourhood in Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince.

GENEVA – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is calling for increased and urgent attention, support, and solutions for Haitians affected by violence and insecurity, including those who have been forcibly displaced.

UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, Raouf Mazou, yesterday concluded a three-day visit to Haiti, where he witnessed the devastating impact of the country’s dire security situation. Armed groups have severely restricted access to essential humanitarian aid, deepening the crisis for vulnerable communities with devastating effects for future generations.

Over 700,000 people have been forced to flee their homes, escaping violence by armed groups and the resulting widespread insecurity. Many face severe shortages of food, water, shelter and medical care in addition to severe protection risks, which Mazou heard about from those he met at sites for internally displaced people in the capital Port-au-Prince and in Ouanaminthe, at the border.

"Now more than ever, Haitians need our collective support, and we cannot turn a blind eye," said Mazou. "Increased funding, enhanced security and international solidarity are essential to providing life-saving humanitarian assistance and restoring stability and hope in Haiti."

During his time in Port-au-Prince, Mazou met with key stakeholders, including Interim Prime Minister Garry Conille, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dominique Dupuy, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Gaspard Herwil, officials from the Ministry of Justice, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Haiti and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) Maria Isabel Salvador, UN Humanitarian Coordinator Ulrika Richardson, and heads of other UN agencies and partners. Mazou reaffirmed UNHCR’s commitment to supporting the Haitian authorities and the UN Country Team’s efforts to address the protection and humanitarian needs of Haitians in the country and throughout the Latin American and Caribbean region.

UNHCR works in Haiti to improve access to birth registration, a critical issue that ensures Haitians can exercise their rights and prevent statelessness. Outside of Haiti, UNHCR continues to engage with governments and partners to ensure Haitians have access to protection and solutions. Several countries in the Americas and beyond are extending various forms of protection and legal stay arrangements to Haitian refugees.

Despite the growing urgency of the crisis, funding for Haiti's humanitarian response remains critically low. The 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan called for $674 million and is currently only 39 per cent funded. UNHCR calls on the international community to increase its support to address humanitarian needs and to pursue solutions for displaced populations in Haiti and for people fleeing Haiti.