Haiti: Armed Attacks and Population Displacement in Montrouis - Update No.1 (as of 6 January 2026)

HIGHLIGHTS

• The security situation in Lower Artibonite remains concerning. Following armed attacks on 29 November in Pont-Sondé and 1 December in L’Estère, which triggered population displacement, the 1st communal section of Délugé, in the municipality of Montrouis, was targeted by new violence on 23 December. This further increased pressure on host communities and access to basic services.
• On the night of 23 December, the locality of Piâtre, located in the communal section of Délugé, was attacked by armed individuals.
• According to IOM ETT 82, these attacks resulted in the displacement of approximately 1,120 people (225 households) to other localities within the municipality of Saint-Marc.
• The Artibonite Departmental Civil Protection Directorate (DGPC), with the support of OCHA, is monitoring the situation through the existing coordination mechanism in Lower Artibonite.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

On 23, 24 and 25 December 2025, armed clashes were reported in the municipality of Montrouis, following earlier attacks in Pont-Sondé and L’Estère. These incidents involved intermittent exchanges of gunfire, interspersed with periods of relative calm.

The latest violence led to the displacement of approximately 1,120 people (225 households). All displaced people sought refuge with host families, mainly in neighboring localities and in the city of Saint-Marc. According to information provided by the CASEC (Communal Section Administrative Council) of the affected section and the DGPC focal point, most displaced persons are in nearby areas, including Rozo, Aymé and Dipen, among others.

Access to these localities is very difficult, and the road remains exposed to armed attacks. The security situation continues to be tense and volatile, significantly affecting humanitarian access in several localities of the municipality of Saint-Marc, as well as along National Road No. 1, which remains inaccessible at the level of Montrouis as of 6 January.
These constraints hinder the rapid implementation of the humanitarian response, reducing the capacity of humanitarian actors to reach affected populations and ensure the continuity of essential services.