UN warns of surging mass displacement in Haiti due to gang violence – JURIST

The UN reported on Wednesday that nearly 30,000 people have fled their homes in Haiti to escape a new wave of violent attacks perpetrated by armed gangs over the past ten days, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian and security situations resulting from ongoing gang violence in the Caribbean island nation.

The majority of the violent attacks took place in an impoverished neighbourhood in the capital, Port-au-Prince. Based on testimonies from two women who fled the area, armed groups initiated widespread mass shootings, with gangs expanding their presence throughout the neighbourhood. Gangs also committed numerous atrocities against civilians, including setting fire to houses with families inside, beheading and shooting at civilians, and looting shops.

These violent attacks have severely impacted citizens’ daily lives, depriving them of shelter and access to food or clean water, which increases poverty on the island. Additionally, parents struggled to provide adequate care and sufficient food for their children, given that they had left their homes without any financial means and remained with no sources of income to meet basic needs following the loss of their local businesses.

Although the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) is currently providing life-saving assistance and food supplies to displaced individuals, the organization’s capacity is surpassed by the high number of victims and those in need across the country, with more than 1.4 million people forced to flee their homes due to escalating violence.

Haiti has previously experienced similar deadly attacks against civilians committed by armed gangs that have taken control of the majority of the capital of Port-au-Prince and continued to expand their territorial control. These groups have also been found responsible for committing other human rights violations, including child trafficking, recruitment, and forced labour.

In October 2025, the UN warned that millions of Haitians faced severe food insecurity as armed groups seized control of critical roads, farmlands, and ports, which impeded humanitarian assistance in addition to creating  a displacement crisis. Gangs’ control of Haiti’s infrastructure and access routes has also allowed them to transform the island to a transshipment and destination point for drug and weapons trafficking.

The escalation of violence has been attributed to the cross-border flow of small arms and light weapons, despite a UN-imposed arms embargo against Haiti intended to curb the violence. However, violent attacks have continued to increase, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. In January 2026, UN officials warned that Haiti was on a breaking point as gangs tightened their control over the territory and daily life on the island.