Gang violence leaves 1.46 million Haitians internally displaced, IOM says

More than 1.46 million people were living in internal displacement across Haiti as of August, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said in its latest situation report, as armed violence continued to empty entire neighborhoods and push families into overcrowded sites with little access to shelter, clean water or medical care.

The figure marks what IOM called a historic level of displacement for the country, with more than 300,000 of those displaced now concentrated in the capital alone. Over the same period, 28,104 Haitian migrants were forcibly returned to the country, adding further strain to communities already absorbing repeated waves of people fleeing gang violence.

Kenscoff attack displaces thousands

IOM said localized incidents of armed violence in August triggered fresh waves of displacement and humanitarian need in several parts of the country. The most severe occurred in Kenscoff, where an devastated gang attack left civilians dead, destroyed homes and displaced more than 4,200 people, according to data gathered through IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM).

The August attack followed a similar episode of violence in Kenscoff in July that had already forced nearly 6,000 residents from their homes, according to IOM. The organization pointed to the back-to-back incidents as evidence of a security situation that continues to deteriorate in the municipality and its surrounding areas, with humanitarian consequences that compound each time new violence erupts.