Haiti Emergency Situation Report No. 13 (As of 29 March 2024)

This report is produced by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Haiti in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It covers the humanitarian situation in Port-au-Prince following the violence that broke out on 29 February. The report covers the period from 27-29 March 2024.

HIGHLIGHTS

• WFP has distributed more than 286,000 meals in 42 sites this month

• More than 2,300 children have received protection services via fixed and mobile interventions

2.3M
Litres of water distributed to displaced people since 29 February

286,000
Hot meals distributed to displaced people in Port-au-Prince since 29 February

2,300
Children have received protection services in March

7%
Funding level of the 2024 Humanitarian Appeal

SITUATION OVERVIEW

One month after the onset of violence that broke out on 29 February in Port-au-Prince, which led to attacks on and affected access to health infrastructures, schools and other on basic social infrastructures, humanitarian actors have rolled out emergency aid programmes to assist the affected people. The International Organization for Migration and Haitian authorities estimate that at least 15,000 people, many of whom were already displaced, were displaced by the 29 February violence. In support to efforts of the Haitian authorities, the United Nations, and NGOs are providing aid daily amid an insecure climate that has, at times, resulted in the suspension of aid distribution. One of the latest incidents took place on 27 March when an agency and its partners were forced to suspend the distribution of dignity and mother’s kit to some 550 women and girls after armed individuals appeared on the distribution site. Other incidents including the looting of a container belonging to the United Nations Children’s Fund, the disruption of WFP’s hot meal services for three days in a row last week, and the burning of a school on 25 March. The Access Working Group reports at least 114 incidents, affecting aid operations in March alone, which is 4 times higher than in December 2023. The closure of the airport and serious access challenges to reach the port have a put strain on humanitarian operations, not for only in Port-au-Prince but also to get humanitarian goods to the other departments.

Throughout the month, the Humanitarian Coordinator, Ulrika Richardson, and other senior UN and NGOs officials have called for an end to the violence, unimpeded access for civilians to social services, and for organizations to deliver aid to those in need.

This latest violence has resulted in the deterioration of an already dire situation. More than 362,000 people are currently displaced across the country with some 160,000 in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area. The health sector has been severely affected with at least 50 per cent of Port-au-Prince’s health facilities closed or functioning below their normal capacities. The 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan, with an appeal of USD 674 million, is currently only funded at 7 per cent.