Haiti is grappling with a deepening humanitarian crisis as gang violence escalates across the capital, pushing thousands into displacement and overwhelming security and aid responses. According to a new report by a leading international aid group, the first quarter of 2025 has already seen more than 78,500 people displaced — more than double the number during the same period last year.

Armed groups now control nearly all neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince, severely limiting civilian movement and access to essential services. The presence of these gangs has created a climate of fear, particularly for children, who are facing disrupted education, malnutrition, and psychological trauma. The worsening situation has also shaken confidence in the transitional presidential council led by Fritz Alphonse Jean. Public frustration mounted after the government announced a controversial partnership with the Brigade for the Security of Protected Areas, a paramilitary group now reportedly allied with ex-rebel leader Guy Philippe.

Efforts to stabilize the country through international security support are facing serious setbacks. Kenya has deployed around 1,000 personnel as part of a multinational security mission. However, these forces have been met with fierce resistance from gangs, resulting in injuries and at least one death. Reports suggest the Kenyan forces are under-equipped, leading mission officials to request additional aid from the United States.

Public unrest is growing amid worsening conditions. On April 2, thousands of Haitians marched through Port-au-Prince, calling for decisive government action to end the violence. Protesters condemned the ineffective transitional government and questioned the credibility of the UN-backed international mission. The peaceful protest was interrupted by gunfire, underlining the constant threat of violence in public spaces.

Economically, Haiti is also under pressure. A new 10 percent tariff imposed by the United States on Haitian goods has further strained an economy already teetering on collapse. Inflation has pushed families to spend up to 70 percent of their income on food, while disruption to food supplies due to the conflict has caused severe hunger across the nation.

The humanitarian impact is staggering. Over one million people, more than half of them children, are currently displaced across Haiti. The United Nations has warned that at least 5.4 million Haitians are facing severe hunger, with over 6,000 at risk of starvation. The violence has cut off key supply routes, particularly around Port-au-Prince, making food and medical aid deliveries increasingly difficult.

Foreign aid to Haiti has declined significantly in recent years, and recent political decisions have compounded the challenges. Though the United States has recently lifted a temporary aid freeze and allocated $64 million to support Haiti’s national police and the multinational security forces, humanitarian agencies stress that far more is needed. Haiti is now appealing for regional support at the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) summit, as it seeks a coordinated international response to its rapidly deteriorating crisis.

With no immediate resolution in sight, the convergence of gang violence, political instability, economic hardship, and mass displacement threatens to push Haiti further into collapse. Aid organizations and civil society groups are calling for urgent global action to prevent further suffering and restore a path toward peace and recovery.