Attachments
Key Messages
- The uptick in violence in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area (ZMPP) and Artibonite continues to displace populations and disrupt income-earning activities and market supply. Poor urban market-dependent households are struggling to access food due to increased insecurity, staple food prices above the five-year average, and falling incomes (particularly from petty trade, casual labor, and other income-earning activities in the urban areas of Port-au-Prince) due to movement restrictions related to gang violence. Widespread Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes persist, as well as continued Emergency (IPC Phase 4) outcomes in Cité Soleil. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) in ZMPP sites, as well as pockets of households in Port-au-Prince, Croix-des-Bouquets, Grand'Anse, and Nord-Ouest are also in Emergency (IPC Phase 4).
- The ZMPP remains the area of highest concern. Gang attacks have increased since October 2024 – particularly in the communes of Port-au-Prince, Tabarre, and Bas Delmas – where almost 40,965 people have been displaced following the November 11 attacks (IOM). The number of security incidents increased by 107 percent in the first two weeks of November (compared with the same period in October) due to attacks by gangs who are expanding their areas of control in Port-au-Prince neighborhoods and other areas outside the capital (ACLED). Attacks have also been observed in Arcahaie and Artibonite, leading to increasing numbers of IDPs, abandoned land, and reductions in area planted in this important agricultural basin. Deteriorating insecurity in the ZMPP, Artibonite, and the main roads linking the capital with other departments has restricted the movement of goods and people, hampering market supply in the capital and other departments. The persistent political instability, illustrated by the replacement of the Prime Minister on November 11, 2024, is exploited by the gangs to increase their acts of violence: the Viv Ansanm gangs announced their intent to resume attacks, and the leader of the “Canaan” gang warned the populations of the Nord, Plateau Central, Artibonite, and Ouest departments not to travel to Port-au-Prince, as they will block road access (PLSO).
- Insecurity has also impacted international transport. Worsening insecurity in Port-au-Prince, including attacks on commercial aircraft at the international airport, prompted a temporary airport closure through November 25. UNHAS humanitarian flights were also temporarily suspended for a week but resumed for Cap-Haitien only. Sea transport continues as the Port-au-Prince port (Autorité Portuaire Nationale) remains open, but the access roads are not secure which limit operation. Despite these rampant insecurity-related disruptions, food prices remain stable but above the five-year average. Since July 2024 the exchange rate has also remained stable, at around 131 gourdes (HTG)/USD (BRH).
- Insecurity continues to hamper and limit humanitarian access, affecting food assistance distribution activities. However, food assistance distribution continues in the ZMPP and other departments – including populations returning from the Dominican Republic – at low levels. The WFP plans to distribute hot meals to 135,000 IDPs before the end of November. On a single day (November 17, 2024) the WFP distributed hot meals to over 38,000 IDPs in 26 sites in Port-au-Prince and Arcahaie. While this food assistance helps beneficiaries to reduce some food consumption gaps, the limited and irregular distribution is insufficient to fully mitigate the effects of food insecurity for the affected populations.