UN warns of more Haitians being displaced amid armed clashes in the West Department

UNITED NATIONS, CMC – United Nations humanitarian groups in Haiti say they are “alarmed” by the impact of armed clashes on people in the West Department, with more than 3,000 people newly displaced in the communes of Ganthier and Kenscoff.

Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesman for the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said that the International Organization for Migration (IOM), is reporting that “armed clashes displaced 1,300 people on July 1, in Ganthier” and that “all displaced families are sheltering with host communities, placing additional strain on already vulnerable households”.

Dujarric said that in Kenscoff, approximately 2,000 people were displaced, following armed clashes during the night of July 4-5.

“We will assess the situation on the ground and you will hear more about Haiti,” Dujarric said, promising that the update will be provided later on Friday.

Earlier this week, heavily armed men from the ‘Viv ansanm’ gang attacked the village of Robin in the Grand Fond communal section, and while  no official statement has yet been released,  several media outlets are reporting that there have been “numerous deaths, injuries, kidnappings, and houses burned down”.

Meantime, the United Kingdom said it is donating £5.6 million (US$7.4 million) to support the UN-backed multinational Gang Suppression Force (GSF) whose mission is to take direct action against criminal gangs controlling the capital, Port-au-Prince.

The UK donation follows the announcement a few days earlier of a US$35.3 million donation from Canada to Haiti, also intended to support the GSF, which has a 12-month mandate, in its fight against armed groups.

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