UN reports 22% increase in internally displaced Haitians in last 3 months

​​​​​​​By Merve Aydogan

HAMILTON, Canada (AA) – The number of internally displaced people in Haiti surged 22% in the last three months, according to a UN official who warned about the worsening situation in the Caribbean nation.

"There are more than 700,000 internally displaced persons, which represents a 22% increase in the last three months," Maria Isabel Salvador, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' Special Representative for Haiti, told the Security Council.

Noting that the "significant challenges" in the political process are "turning hope into deep concern," Salvador said, "The security situation remains extremely fragile, with renewed peaks of acute violence."

Salvador also highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Haiti.

"Gangs are also attacking in the sea. Small boats transporting civilians from the capital to other areas in Haiti have been attacked," she said. "Personnel of international cargo freight companies have been kidnapped causing international freight companies to suspend services to Haiti.”

UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) Executive Director Catherine Russell described the situation as "catastrophic," noting the "staggering increase in reported incidents of sexual violence against women and children, including gender-based violence."

"We estimate that children account for 30 to 50% of armed group members," she said, and children are "being used as informants, cooks and sex slaves."

Russell urged Council members to use their influence with state actors and armed groups to protect human rights, and increase the flexible humanitarian funding.

Haiti has been grappling with a wave of gang violence in recent years, worsened by the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021.

Violent gangs control up to 80% of Port-au-Prince, and terrorize the population through killings, kidnappings and raping -- there seems to be no end in sight.

Haiti’s national police has about 9,000 officers to provide security for more than 11 million people, according to the UN.