Haiti: Humanitarian Response Overview, Situation Report – August 2023 – Haiti

This report was prepared by OCHA Haiti with contributions from humanitarian partners. It contains the latest information as of 31 August 2023 and covers the period from 1 to 31 August 2023.

HIGHLIGHTS

• August saw recurrent attacks from armed groups in neighbourhoods that had previously remained free of their control, forcing local populations to abandon their homes and flee.

• Many people have sheltered with family and friends in the capital or in other departments, yet more than 20,000 people are currently sheltering in 26 makeshift sites.

• Humanitarian actors are working closely with the Directorate General of Civil Protection (DGCP) to rapidly put in place a multi-sectoral response to address the most severe needs related to safe water, food assistance, child protection, gender-based violence (GBV), health and shelter/non-food items (NFI).

• The lack of funding for the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan, currently at a mere 26 per cent, is preventing the delivery of the minimum services required for dignified living conditions at these sites and for finding lasting solutions for displaced people.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

August saw a resurgence of violence in many Port-au-Prince metropolitan area (ZMPAP) neighbourhoods. The mid-July truce between the G-9 and GPEP, the two main gang coalitions, appears to be holding. There were no reports of major clashes in Cité Soleil during August. However, gangs appear to be taking advantage of the lull to focus their efforts on expanding their control into areas not yet under their influence. This has led to extremely violent confrontations between gangs and local populations, especially in communities that have organised self-defence groups. In some neighbourhoods, such as Tabarre, there is growing tension with communities who are accusing displaced people currently in makeshift settlements of attracting gang members.

The change in gang dynamics may be partly linked to progress in discussions on the deployment of a multinational security support mission. Following the late July announcement of their willingness to lead such a mission, a Kenyan delegation undertook a three-day mission to Haiti to assess conditions for such a deployment.

During August, the humanitarian community in Haiti also prepared for tropical storm Franklin, which fortunately spared the country. Despite access constraints, partners stocked supplies in strategic locations around the country. The hurricane season is in full swing, however, and response organizations urgently need resources to maintain sufficient emergency response stocks amid funding shortfalls.