The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Thursday that nearly 13,000 Haitian migrants were deported to their country of origin by states in the region in March, despite the dire humanitarian and security situation they face.
This figure represents a 46% increase compared to the previous month, according to the UN agency. Among the deportees, approximately 3,000 received humanitarian assistance upon their return, while 1,200 received psychosocial support.
“The majority of Haitians see regular migration as an insurmountable obstacle, leaving irregular migration as their only hope,” noted the organization.
Acquiring a passport can take “months or even more than a year,” as cited by the IOM, which also highlighted the high numbers of internally displaced people.
According to the agency, over 360,000 Haitians have been forced to flee their homes due to violence, with many experiencing displacement multiple times.
With a population of 11.6 million in 2022, Haiti has been grappling with deep political and security crises. Recent weeks have seen a surge in violence, as several gangs united to launch attacks on strategic locations in Port-au-Prince, aiming to overthrow Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
Henry, amidst controversy, was unable to return to the country after a trip to Kenya in early March. Eventually, he submitted his resignation to facilitate the transition of power to a transitional council. However, the formation of this council, consisting of nine individuals, has faced delays due to internal disagreements and legal uncertainties surrounding the outgoing government.
In response to the crisis, Martin Griffiths, the UN humanitarian coordinator, released $12 million from an emergency fund on Thursday to address the escalating situation.