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P-au-P, August 23, 2024 (AlterPresse) – The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Haiti (Ocha) has warned that the humanitarian crisis on the territory of the country could worsen if more personnel are not immediately mobilized. A document seen by the online agency AlterPresse shows that there are sufficient financial resources to respond to this problem.
Ocha warned that the humanitarian situation could deteriorate if more resources were not provided to the humanitarian community.
With the surge in wanton violence by armed groups, more and more people are becoming extremely vulnerable in communities and areas affected by weapons transporters and in areas far from the metropolitan area of the capital, Port-au-Prince, which hosts hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs).
The levels of violence and brutality are appalling
Ocha reported that since February 29, 2024, there has been an increase in violent incidents sparked at the beginning of the year.
Nearly 2,500 people were killed or injured in the first quarter of 2024 (January to March), a 53% increase from the previous period (October to December 2023).
In the second quarter (April to June 2024), 1,379 people were killed or injured, and 428 people were kidnapped.
Spectacular forced displacement
Between March and June 2024, the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) increased by 60% to 578,000 in the metropolitan area of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and in the Artibonite department (north), as attacks by armed groups intensified.
Ocha predicts that the epicenter of the humanitarian crisis may gradually shift to more and more areas that have not yet escaped insecurity.
Half of the displaced people have fled Port-au-Prince in desperation for the Deep South, where the vast majority live with host families who are already financially vulnerable.
The health system is on the verge of collapse
Ocha noted that basic services have virtually collapsed, with only 24% of hospitals functioning normally.
Haiti’s largest public hospital, the National University of Haiti (Hueh) Hospital, has been closed since March 2024 due to repeated attacks by armed groups in the region.
The presence of displaced people in the greater south, mainly in the western departments of the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, has put additional pressure on some hospitals in these areas, which are already struggling to function, Ocha continued, especially for the care of pregnant women.
Call for funding for the entire response plan
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Haiti has called for the urgent meeting of all financial requirements set out in the Humanitarian Response Plan, which amounts to US$674 million (Editor’s note: US$1.00 = +140.00 gourdes; 1 euro = 148.00 gourdes; 1 Canadian dollar = 98.00 gourdes; today 1 Dominican peso = 2.40 gourdes).
“Of the $674 million required, only 24% had been received as of August 5, 2024). This is largely insufficient to scale up the response, given the enormous needs of the most vulnerable.”
Ocha predicted that if the funding is not secured, “the chances of survival for the 3.6 million people targeted by the program will be significantly reduced”. He asked donors to provide flexible funding so that partners can adjust funds according to current priorities. (emb rc 2024年4月23日 12:45)
Photo: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Haiti (OCHA) X account
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