Never before had Haiti reached such a level of despair. In June 2025, nearly 1.3 million people were fleeing gang violence. The number of displaced people in Haiti reached an all-time high, a development that resonated as far as Martinique, a land of diaspora and solidarity.
The figure comes down like a verdict: 1.3 million internally displaced persons As of June 10, 2025. This represents an increase of 24,% in just six months. This figure is the highest ever recorded in Haiti since UN agencies began tracking population flows of people displaced by armed violence. Behind this record figure lies a brutal reality: entire families fleeing, often with nothing, forced to leave everything behind just to survive.
Port-au-Prince Overwhelmed: Violence Spreads to the Provinces
Long confined to the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, the gangs’ influence now extends far beyond the capital. In the Centre Department, fighting around Mirebalais and Saut-d’Eau has more than doubled the number of displaced people. The figure has risen from approximately 68,000 to more than 147,000 people.
In Artibonite, the town of Petite-Rivière alone is home to more than 92,000 displaced people. Further north, the number of people forced to flee their homes has surged by nearly 80 %. In fact, 69 % of the recorded population displacements now involve the provinces.
This spread of violence across the country effectively marks a new stage in the collapse of the Haitian state.
Children on the Front Lines
Among Haiti's internally displaced persons, children account for more than half of those affected. Furthermore, the forced recruitment of minors by armed groups has increased by 70 % in one year.
Schools are closing one after another. More than 900 schools were closed by the end of the 2024 school year. Some have been converted into makeshift shelters for homeless families.
However, The healthcare system is on its last legs as well. In Port-au-Prince, only one of the three major hospitals is still operating normally. The others have been rendered inoperable following repeated attacks. In addition, the resurgence of cholera and acute food insecurity—which affects 5.7 million Haitians—are further exacerbating the population’s distress.
A humanitarian plan abandoned by its donors
In the face of this disaster, the international community remains a bystander. The 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan is estimated at $908 million. However, only 8 % of that amount had been funded by midyear.
This means that only a fraction of the 3.9 million people targeted are receiving assistance. The sectors most affected are access to safe drinking water, food security, primary health care, and the protection of women and children.
The suspension, effective January 2025, of virtually all U.S. funding has exacerbated the situation. This decision by the Trump administration has had direct consequences: health centers co-funded by Washington have closed. Hundreds of thousands of Haitians are being deprived of vital care.
Furthermore, the proliferation of competing crises—Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan—is diverting attention and funding. Haiti is thus paying the price for its political invisibility.
The Multinational Mission: Too Little, Too Slow
Deployed under Kenyan command since 2024, the Multinational Security Support Mission is struggling to reverse the trend. It lacks staff, logistical resources, and long-term funding.
Nevertheless, its targeted efforts in certain neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince have led to the temporary reopening of vital roads. These roads are essential for the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Martinique: Diaspora, Solidarity, and Haitian Displaced Persons
The crisis in Haiti is not an abstract issue for Martinique. The Haitian community there has deep historical roots and comprises several thousand active members. These individuals play an active role in the local economy and community organizations.
Every new wave of violence in Port-au-Prince has tangible consequences here: unanswered phone calls, blocked money transfers, and new families arriving with few resources. The number of Haitian nationals arriving irregularly in the French West Indies remains high.
In Martinique, the prefecture has recorded a steady increase in asylum applications since 2022. Haitians are among the largest group of asylum seekers. However, the acceptance rate remains low. Many find themselves in extremely precarious situations due to a lack of adequate reception facilities.
Genuine solidarity, but not enough
Several organizations in Martinique hold regular drives to collect medicine, clothing, and nonperishable food items. These initiatives are intended for Haiti. In particular, organizations within the Haitian diaspora play a major role.
The Territorial Collectivity of Martinique provides ad hoc support for these initiatives. However, it has not established a formal, long-term institutional partnership with the Haitian authorities. Yet it is precisely this structural framework that is most sorely lacking. The situation now calls for an organized, long-term response.
Ultimately, the tragedy in Haiti calls on the entire Caribbean to stand united. A brother nation is collapsing just a two-hour flight from Fort-de-France. Regional Solidarity is no longer just a moral obligation—it is a geopolitical necessity. Discover also the extent of acute food insecurity which is exacerbating the crisis among displaced people in Haiti.
