UNICEF Haiti Humanitarian Situation Report No. 6: August 2023 – Haiti

Reporting Period: 1 – 31 August 2023

Highlights

• The month of August saw an uptick of violence in the Metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, namely in the neighbourhoods of Carrefour Feuilles and Solino which resulted in a sudden significant displacement of population – by end of August over 20,000 new internally displaced people (IDPs) were registered across more than 25 sites – many of which remain schools and churches. In support of the Government and in collaboration with partners, in August, UNICEF provided a priority emergency response to the newly displaced – including mobile health-nutrition clinics, WASH services, and child protection including GBV support.

• Preparation for the new school year is also underway, with continued concern for those students still living in armed group-controlled areas and/or displaced– in collaboration with the ministry and with support of education actors, solutions are being discussed. Almost 18,000 school kits have been prepositioned in southern and northern departments in preparation for the return to school.

• Concerns for resurgences of cholera during the coming cyclone and heavy rains season continue with Artibonite, Centre and Ouest departments being particularly affected. As of August, UNICEF was able to assist over 700,000 people with safe water, while 560,000 received critical WASH supplies including cholera kits.

• To respond effectively to the imminent humanitarian needs, while building conditions for more shock-responsive systems in Haiti, UNICEF requires US$245.9 million. As of August, UNICEF’s humanitarian appeal has a funding gap of US$198 million (80 per cent).

Situation Overview and Humanitarian Needs

Haiti, grappling with a complex history of poverty, political instability, and natural hazards, continued to face increasing
humanitarian challenges » in 2023. It has been estimated that over 5.2 million Haitians, nearly half of the population,
need humanitarian assistance and protection. Thousands of other highly vulnerable people may fall in need shortly if
the situation continues to deteriorate or in case new shocks affect their communities. The compounded crises have
impacts on distinct groups and regions: urban populations entrapped by armed violence; families displaced by violence;
food insecure and marginalized communities outside the capital; and repatriated migrants. Furthermore, in July talks of
possible creation of Provisional Electoral Council, and a government reshuffle continues. Following the announcement
from the Kenyan Minister for Foreign Affairs that Kenya could lead a multinational force in Haiti if required, a scoping
mission took place in early August 2023. Further discussion and decisions are expected in September 2023 including
at the UN Security Council, The influence of armed groups has increased, coupled with severe human rights violations, including attacks on health centres and schools. The spike in actions by civil defence groups has added another layer of complexity. Since April, The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti. (BINUH) has documented the killing of at least 264 alleged members of armed groups by civil defence groups. The deliberate use of gender-based violence (GBV) against women, girls and boys remains a serious concern. UNICEF partners are documenting increasing numbers of cases, at levels higher than last year, and the trend is likely to rise as armed violence exacerbates risks of sexual violence and exploitation.

Cholera continues to affect Haiti across the country, by the end of August 2023, there are over 60,700 suspected cases
of cholera reported, of them 3,845 were confirmed (an increase of 233 from the previous month) – almost half are
children. To date, there have been 855 deaths including community and institutional.

With a healthcare system facing significant challenges, and the on ongoing cyclone and rainy season, concerns on spikes in cholera cases continue, especially in the departments of Artibonite, Centre and Ouest where a significant number of cases continue to present themselves to Cholera Treatment Centres and/or public health structures that suffer from limited human resources.

The combination of political instability, economic hardships, and environmental challenges continues to lead to
significant internal displacement and migration from Haiti. According to the International Organization for Migration
(IOM), the latest displacement information notes that close to 200,000 people are internally displaced in Haiti due to
violence namely in the West and Artibonite department.5 Armed violence, kidnappings and gender-based violence
(GBV) have forced thousands of people to flee their homes. Recent Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) assessments
estimate that over 60,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) are living in close to 70 spontaneous sites throughout Port-
au-Prince, and smaller groups have been identified in sites in Artibonite, while partners note some movement towards
the Southern departments. UNICEF estimates that among them there are around 27,000 children and adolescents.

Given the reluctance of the government to set up IDP camps, thousands more have found shelter in other host
communities, where their location and humanitarian needs are difficult to assess. UNICEF continues to support IOM
and government counterpart General Directorate of Civil Protection (DGPC) with advocacy for solutions to the IDP situation. Notably with the return to school next month, major concern over the future of school-aged IDPs has been
expressed by several parents. The ministry is working with the DGPC, other Government departments, UN, and NGO
partners to find acceptable solutions to allow access to learning as well as protect the rights of displaced populations.

The mid-July truce between Haiti’s two main armed group coalitions was achieved, resulting in an overall appearance
of a reduction in violence including in the Cité Soleil commune and Martissant to an extent, however, other
neighbourhoods remain affected by clashes and violence; notably those of Carrefour Feuilles and Savanes Pistaches
in the ZMPP. Ahead of the potential deployment of a multinational security support mission, the access working group
has started working on scenarios to support agencies and the humanitarian community with contingency planning
efforts.