The United Nations Humanitarian Office in Haiti (BINUH) reported that 1,732 people were killed in the fourth quarter of 2024 due to clashes between armed gangs, self-defense groups, and police. The situation is "increasingly alarming," confirmed Ulrika Richardson, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Humanitarian Coordinator of BINUH, to Agenzia Nova.
Richardson highlighted the growing number of displaced people in the capital Port-au-Prince and the northern province of Artibonite, who lack access to social and health services and face food insecurity. "We are seeing a continuous deterioration, regardless of the indicator considered, the numbers continue to rise. Criminal gangs control over 85 percent of the capital, hold entire neighborhoods hostage, and terrorize people, forcing them to flee," Richardson said, noting that 5,600 people were killed in 2024 alone. "The number of internally displaced persons has tripled: from around 300,000 at the beginning of 2024, it has exceeded one million after twelve months, more than half of whom are children."
The UN expressed concern over the forced expulsions of Haitian refugees from neighboring countries, particularly the Dominican Republic, where they are returned to a volatile and dangerous situation. Richardson emphasized the need for countries to halt deportations, citing the lack of basic necessities and the risk of further violence for those returned to Haiti. "We are very concerned about forced expulsions because people are being forcibly returned here, where the situation is already very difficult," she said. "We have asked many countries, especially those in the region, not to send people back because they would be homeless, jobless, and would not even have the means to move around Haiti from the border where they are left. Where do they go? How can their children be integrated if the situation is already difficult due to violence?"
Richardson called for a humane and orderly approach to any potential future deportations, emphasizing the need for proper screening and support for vulnerable individuals, including children and pregnant women. "We believe that it is better for neighboring countries to pause expulsions and respect the human dignity of these people," she concluded.