A multi-layer crisis
For several years, Haiti has been engulfed in a socioeconomic, political and humanitarian crisis that has reached critical levels since mid-September 2022 due to escalating armed violence and gang control of territory. Widespread insecurity and political instability have drastically affected the country's access to essential goods and services, such as food, water and sanitation, and health care, and forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes.
Meanwhile, a cholera epidemic resurged in October 2022, after 3 years without cases, and spread rapidly across the country. While the cholera outbreak seems under control, conditions remain in place for a heightened risk of further spread of the disease, as well as other diseases such as dengue, TB, measles, and polio, notably in Internally Displaced Populations (IDP) sites.
Current Situation & Health Impact
Since November 11, 2024, Haiti has seen an escalation to its humanitarian situation due to renewed violence linked to gang activities in Port-au-Prince and nearby areas.
The population of Haiti is grappling with an unprecedented lack of access to medical services, particularly in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area (PaP), less than half of the health facilities are operating at their normal capacity, placing immense pressure on local healthcare systems. Difficulties in accessing services are adversely affecting patients with chronic illnesses and pregnant women, leading to an increase in critical medical and obstetric emergencies.
Highlights
The security situation remains volatile and unpredictable in Port-au-Prince, continuing to hinder access to essential services like healthcare.
While there has been a decline in suspected cases of cholera nationwide, localized outbreaks are still being recorded. Therefore, the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP, as per its French acronym), in collaboration with PAHO/WHO, continues to maintain proactive and responsive surveillance to prevent any potential spread of the disease, especially in Internally Displaced Persons sites (IDPs).
Overcrowded living conditions in IDPs sites poses risks of disease spreading. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the recent upsurge in violence has displaced an additional 40 000 people. Over 700,000 people, more than half of whom are children, are now internally displaced across Haiti.
As of November 11, 2024, close to 53,000 internally displaced persons were still sheltered in the 41 sites supported by the Health Directorate of the Ouest department (DSO, as per its French acronym) with the collaboration of PAHO/WHO. This number represents around 25% of all internally displaced persons located across 91 sites in the Metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince.
Cholera Situation
After more than 3 years with no cases, on 1 October 2022 Haiti national authorities reported two confirmed cases of cholera in the greater Port-au-Prince area. As of 26 Ocotber 2024 (latest official report), the MSPP reported 87,616 total suspected cases, 4,858 confirmed cases, 85,071 hospitalized cases, 1005 institutional deaths and 314 community deaths.
Recent months have seen a steady reduction in the number of reported cholera cases, however localized outbreaks are monitored in the commune of Dessalines (Artibonite) and in Cité Soleil (Ouest). PAHO is working with the MSPP and other partners (MSF) to strengthen the local cholera response team and to provide essential drugs and supplies for treatment despite the security situation, which is severely hampering the response, especially in Cité Soleil.
Risk factors for cholera spread remain present and are heightened by the crisis as water supply could become scarce and sanitary conditions deteriorate, which could result in a resurgence of new cholera cases. Continued support to surveillance, early detection and rapid response are essential conditions for maintaining the control of the outbreak and breaking the transmission chain in a sustainable way.
PAHO/WHO's Response
In response to the escalating insecurity and humanitarian crisis in Haiti, the Pan American Health Organization has been supporting the Ministry of Health (MSPP) and active health partners to mitigate the ongoing strain on the health sector caused by the prolonged gang violence and protecting the operational capacity of critical health facilities to continue providing emergency health services to the local populations.
PAHO/WHO's support to the MSPP has enabled nearly 20,000 medical consultations to be carried out and over 38 tons of medical supplies from its stockpile in Panama to be supplied for the care of internally displaced persons. This operation was made possible through a collaboration with WFP, the United Nations Humanitarian Depot (UNHRD) and with the financial support of the European Commission Humanitarian Aid (ECHO). These supplies were strategically pre-positioned into health facilities in the Centre, Nord-Est, Nord, Artibonite, and Nord-Ouest departments as contingency stock.
PAHO/WHO is distributing medicines and medical supplies to key health facilities through the PROMESS warehouse and ensuring the maintenance of the cold chain essential for vaccine preservation. As part of these efforts, PAHO/WHO recently donated medical equipment to Hôpital Universitaire de la Paix, enabling it to treat up to 3,000 seriously injured individuals and continue providing care to vulnerable populations, including pregnant women and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area.
Donation of medicines, medical supplies and equipment to health facilities that remain operational in the capital.
Delivery of blood supplies and consumables to the National Blood Transfusion Center to resume blood testing activities.
Distribution of hygiene and sanitation products in 41 sites in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area to 53,000 internally displaced persons.
Support local authorities in providing surveillance activities and health service delivery (mobile clinics) at IDP sites.
Supply of fuel to the National Ambulance Center to ensure the continuity of ambulance operations within the PaP area.
Enhanced support to epidemiological and laboratory surveillance at national and department levels for cholera and other epidemic-prone diseases.
Psychosocial support to persons living in shelters facing stigma and fear of epidemics such as cholera.
Protecting the Health of Displaced Haitians
PAHO/WHO has been supporting response efforts of Haitian health authorities and other health partners to detect and attend the acute health needs of displaced populations in 41 camps in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince hosting over 53,000 persons.
Activities included support to care delivery through the distribution of medicines and medical supplies and mobilization of health workers, epidemiological surveillance, vaccination and psychological support, among others. These actions were carried out with the generous financial support of USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).
PAHO/WHO’s financial requirements to attend urgent public health needs of the Haitian population amount $24.5M for 2024. As of 1 November 2024, the organization has mobilized just over $8.5M in donor contributions to support targeted health interventions and health emergency response efforts throughout the country. The critical funding gap of over $15M significantly hampers the capacity of health partners to provide lifesaving and crucial health services to the most vulnerable Haitians.
PAHO/WHO is working closely with national health authorities, other UN agencies and local and international health partners to address the Haitian population's most pressing health needs during this crisis and protect the lives of the most vulnerable.
Critical health needs include:
Procuring blood transfusion supplies, oxygen, and essential medicines and medical equipment required by hospitals and health partners to support emergency care delivery;
Ensuring access to food, transportation, and financial gratification for overworked healthcare professionals reporting for duty;
Providing technical, operational and logistics support to HUP and other operational health facilities (fuel, minor repairs, generators, mass casualty plan) to maintain operations;
Supporting the National Ambulance Center to increase the transfer of patients and victims (fuel, spare parts, medical supplies).
Prepositioning and scaling up logistics and supply chain operations in the Dominican Republic for rapid mobilization of supplies wards Haiti until the humanitarian corridor opens.
Access Haiti's Health Emergency Appeal to learn more and donate.
