UN warns of mounting displacement and damaged health system in Port‑au‑Prince
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Summary
The UN reported thousands displaced in Port‑au‑Prince since Jan. 6, said only about 10% of inpatient health facilities are fully operational and that roughly 1.4 million people are internally displaced; the UN appealed for additional funding to reach the most vulnerable.
At a UN press briefing, spokesperson Steph said clashes in Port‑au‑Prince have driven people from their homes and that the International Organization for Migration has recorded about 6,000 new displacements since Jan. 6. She said internal displacement linked to violence has doubled over the past year and now stands at roughly 1.4 million people, about 12% of Haiti’s population.
Steph told reporters that only about 10% of health facilities with inpatient capacity in Haiti are fully operational and that approximately 4.9 million people need emergency health assistance. She said the UN and partners are appealing for funding to help the most vulnerable populations and that humanitarian programs have been significantly impacted by the escalating violence.
Steph also noted that Doctors Without Borders announced on Jan. 8 it was suspending medical activities in the Bel Air neighborhood of Port‑au‑Prince until further notice, underscoring operational constraints for health actors on the ground.