Attachments
Highlights
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During the first half of 2023, the humanitarian situation in Haiti continued to deteriorate. The influence of armed groups has increased, including attacks on health centres and schools. The spike in actions by vigilante groups has added another layer of complexity. There are increasing reports on the use of gender-based violence by armed groups. Over 165,000 people are now internally displaced due to armed group violence. In areas already hit by violence, heavy rainfall caused floods affecting over 45,000 families. Thousands are displaced due to damages. The further deterioration of food security and increasing cholera contagion as a consequence of these early-season flooding events, are of great concern.
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Despite the outstanding challenges in delivering humanitarian assistance, as of June 2023, UNICEF has been able to reach nearly 545,000 people with safe water, over 477,000 with WASH supplies; 373,590 people with cholera kits; close to 40,000 caregivers with nutritional counselling and 7,824 children with treatment for severe wasting; around 73,000 children and women have received health care services; nearly 700,000 people have been vaccinated against cholera; 32,603 children received learning materials; nearly 36,000 children and caregivers received psychosocial support; 2,570 households have received cash transfers and nearly 5 million people have been reached with life-saving information.
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To respond effectively to the imminent humanitarian needs, while building conditions for more shock-responsive systems in Haiti, UNICEF requires US$245.9 million. As of June, UNICEF’s humanitarian appeal has a funding gap of US$207.5 million (84 per cent).
Situation Overview and Humanitarian Needs
Haiti, grappling with a complex history of poverty, political instability, and natural hazards, continued to face increasing humanitarian challenges during the first half of 2023. It is estimated that over 5.2 million Haitians, nearly half of the population, need humanitarian assistance and protection. Thousands of other highly vulnerable people may fall in need shortly, if the situation continues to deteriorate or in case new shocks affect their communities. The compounded crises have differentiated impacts on distinct groups and regions: urban populations entrapped by armed violence; families displaced by violence; food insecure and marginalized communities outside the capital; and repatriated migrants.
The influence of armed groups has increased, coupled with severe human rights violations, including attacks on health centres and schools. The spike in actions by vigilante groups has added another layer of complexity. Since April, BINUH has documented the killing of at least 264 alleged members of armed groups by vigilante groups. The deliberate use of gender-based violence (GBV) against women, girls and boys remains a serious concern. UNICEF partners are documenting increasing numbers of cases, at levels higher than last year, and the trend is likely to rise as armed violence exacerbates risks of sexual violence and exploitation.
Haiti's vulnerability to natural disasters is well-documented and the country continues to grapple with their devastating consequences. The levels of rainfall intensified in early June, causing heavy flooding across Haiti, Ouest being the most affected department- including Cité Soleil, Léogâne, Grand-Goâve and Port-au-Prince communes. Approximately 45,000 families were affected, 58 fatalities were recorded, and 30,000 hectares of cultivated land were flooded. With livelihoods considerably impacted, this early-season flooding event adds to multiple layers of vulnerability in the country and is expected to further exacerbate the food insecurity situation, and further impact access to income and basic goods, in the coming months.5 Also in June, a 5.5 magnitude earthquake shocked the Grand’Anse department, leaving four people dead and 37 injured.
By the end of June 2023, since the resurface of the disease in October 2022, 52,021 suspected cholera cases had been reported, of them 3,385 were confirmed – 37 per cent were children under ten years of age.7 With a healthcare system facing significant challenges, concerns arose due to spikes in cholera cases detected in June after the floods affecting parts of the country.
The combination of political instability, economic hardships, and environmental challenges continues to lead to significant internal displacement and migration from Haiti. According to latest figures released by IOM,8 at least 61,600 Haitian returnees have arrived in the country by land, sea and air so far in 2023. Furthermore, over 165,000 people are now internally displaced in Haiti due to armed groups violence, and around 13,000 more have displaced due to recent floods. While most of the internally displaced people (IDPs) seek shelter with family members, a significant number has sheltered in spontaneous sites. According to recent assessments conducted by UNICEF partners, IDPs in these spontaneous sites are in urgent need of emergency aid and psychosocial support, and need support for long-term resettlement, cash, clothing, education opportunities for children, livelihoods and income sources. Most of them are unemployed women heads of household.
The past month has been also marked by high level missions and advocacy moments which have helped raise awareness on the situation in Haiti. On 16 June, the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) held a high-level special emergency meeting to address the urgent humanitarian and development needs in Haiti. During the meeting, ECOSOC president remarked the concerning underfunding of the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), which is currently only 23 per cent funded. UNICEF Executive Director remarked that lifesaving humanitarian assistance must go hand-in-hand with development solutions that build resilience of Haitian communities and social service systems. Furthermore, from 18 to 20 June, the Executive Directors of the World Food Programme (WFP), Cindy McCain, and UNICEF, Catherine Russell, visited Haiti. They called for far more support for highly vulnerable children and families facing rampant violence, deadly natural disasters, and a resurgence of cholera in Haiti.
UNICEF’s Executive Director has been appointed as the Principal Advocate on Haiti for the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC). At the request of the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator, Russell will help lead the international humanitarian community’s effort to galvanize attention, support, and resources at a moment of unprecedented need in the country. She will be engaging with Haitian civil society, government, and international partners to help expand access for safe, dignified, and predictable humanitarian assistance and protection for children and their families and create a pathway for new solutions.