UN warns: Over 6 million Haitians face urgent humanitarian crisis

The humanitarian crisis in Haiti has reached a critical level, with over 6 million people in urgent need of assistance.

During a special meeting on Haiti, UN Security Council members were briefed by the UN Special Representative for Haiti, María Isabel Salvador, Caliber.Az reports referring to international media.

She emphasized that the deteriorating security situation has profoundly impacted UN operations in the region.

Salvador indicated that, due to the suspension of flights to the capital, Port-au-Prince, and escalating violence, the UN has made the decision to temporarily reduce its presence in the capital.

Despite these challenges, the UN continues to deliver essential support to the people of Haiti. "The UN remains dedicated to increasing its presence when security conditions permit and is continuously monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of its staff and assist those in need," Salvador stated.

The UN spokesperson highlighted the severity of the humanitarian crisis, noting that "more than 6 million people, nearly half of the country's population, are in need of humanitarian assistance." She also reported that the number of internally displaced individuals has surged to over 1 million, with more than half of them being children.

Temporary shelters are overcrowded and fail to provide access to basic services such as clean water, sanitation, and education. Additionally, food insecurity now affects 48 per cent of the population, as Salvador elaborated.

Haiti requires $908 million to implement the 2025 Humanitarian Assistance Plan, and Salvador urged donors to make substantial contributions to relieve suffering and support reconstruction efforts.

In 2024, Haiti has seen over 5,000 fatalities due to attacks by armed gangs, as the country grapples with a severe political, economic, and social crisis compounded by unprecedented gang violence. The population of more than 11 million faces the threat of starvation.

Violence has escalated in a nation where armed gangs control approximately 80 per cent of the capital. In response to the growing crisis, former Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigned in April 2024, leading the Interim Council to appoint Garry Conille as Prime Minister.

The council later replaced Conille with businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, who was appointed as prime minister on November 11, 2024, following Conille's retirement.

By Tamilla Hasanova