Haiti Emergency Situation Report No. 4 (As of 8 March 2024)

This report is produced by 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 mainly covers the period from 6-8 March 2024.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Since the last situation report published on 6 February, a major development has been the looting of the country’s main port where the overwhelming majority of goods and products transit through. More than 300 humanitarian containers are under looting threat.

• Some 15,000 people have been displaced by the violence that has broken out since 29 February.

• WFP has delivered close to 19,000 meals over the last 48 hours (7-8 March).

• IOM and its partners distributed non-food articles to over 1,600 households on two IDP sites; it has also been able to assist 30 households with the rent assistance program.

• The violence has forced numerous health centers to close or to significantly reduce their operations; the presence of partners in displaced sites is reduced or suspended and most GBV service points are closed due the security and access.

• OCHA is leading coordination efforts in close collaboration with the civil protection (DGPC) to ensure that organisations can deliver with as little access constraints possible under the circumstances.

5.5M In need of humanitarian assistance

3.6M targeted for assistance-HNRP 2024

362K internally displaced people

$674M Amount of 2024 HNRP

SITUATION OVERVIEW

On 29 February, violence broke across numerous neighborhoods of the capital Port-au-Prince, notably in the neighborhoods of Bon Repos, Leogane, Tabarre, and Delmas. Two days later, on 1 March, heavy gunfight led notably to two prison breaks, throwing the capital and its neighboring areas into more insecurity. A State of Emergency, initially imposed for the Ouest Department including Port-au-Prince for three days, has been extended for one month until 3 April. A nighttime curfew has also been imposed until 11 March. About 15,000 people have been displaced by the violence. More than two thirds of whom moved to 14 different sites, including 3 new sites without reception structures and 11 existing sites that have become overcrowded for many. Some 362,000 people are currently displaced in the country, up from 314,000 at the end of 2023.

A major development has been the looting of the country’s main port where the overwhelming majority of goods and products transit. An unspecified number of containers of food and non-food articles were broken into. Humanitarian actors are concerned as more than 300 humanitarian containers are under looting threat. Efforts are being undertaken at different levels to ensure that humanitarian stocks are protected. Terminal Varreux, where the majority of the fuel in country is stocked, has been reported blocked by gangs, raising concerns of a shortfall of fuel.

Access to food, healthcare, water and hygiene facilities, and psychological support are among the most urgent needs. UNICEF and its partners today started water operations targeting several IDP sites. Humanitarian actors are continuing to deliver emergency aid, amid some access constraints. Humanitarian organizations remain deeply concerned about the impact of the violence on hospitals and health centres. Many schools remain closed.

The violence has disrupted economic activities across the city. All commercial airlines have suspended flights to Port-au- Prince. The Dominican Republic Government closed its airspace to all flights to and from Haiti effective 5 March.