The number of people displaced by violence and instability in Haiti has reached an unprecedented level, with more than 1.4 million people forced from their homes this year, according to the latest Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) report from the International Organization for Migration (IOM). This marks the highest figure ever recorded in the country and represents a 36 per cent increase since the end of 2024.
"The severity of this crisis demands increased and sustained response," said Grégoire Goodstein, IOM's Chief of Mission in Haiti. "The generosity of Haitian communities hosting displaced people must be matched by renewed international support. What is needed now are sustainable solutions that restore dignity, foster resilience, and create lasting alternatives for those enduring this long and complex crisis."
According to the report, the crisis is spreading well beyond the capital. Nearly two thirds (64 per cent) of new displacements have occurred outside Port-au-Prince, particularly in the Centre and Artibonite departments, continuing a trend observed in previous assessments.
The existing displacement sites are overcrowded and experience shortage of basic services. On the other hand, spontaneous displacement sites have gradually increased from 142 in December to 238 today. Local communities continue to bear the greatest burden, hosting around 85 per cent of displaced people despite mounting pressure on limited resources.
Women and children are most affected by the conflict, accounting for more than half of all displaced people in Haiti. Many families have been separated as parents send their children to stay with relatives in safer areas in a desperate effort to protect them.
Along Haiti's border with the Dominican Republic, communities are facing additional strain as more than 207,000 deported Haitians have returned since January 2025, to a country where escalating gang violence
In response to this complex and rapidly evolving crisis, IOM has expanded its operations beyond the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, strengthening its presence in provincial areas affected by violence. IOM teams on the ground are providing emergency shelter, clean water, health services, mental health and psychosocial support, protection services, and livelihood opportunities to vulnerable families.
IOM, in collaboration with authorities, partners, and community members, is also working to build safer, more resilient communities by investing in education, employment, and community-based programmes for youth, as well as supporting community-led rehabilitation of public infrastructure. This inclusive approach, rooted in disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration principles, seeks to lay the foundation for lasting peace and stability in Haiti.
As humanitarian needs continue to grow, IOM renews its call to the international community to scale up funding and access to ensure that urgent aid reaches those most in need, while also investing in long-term solutions that address the drivers of displacement. Without immediate and sustained support, the suffering of hundreds of thousands of displaced and deported Haitians will only spiral further.
