FLASH : 13.4% increase in gender-based violence in 1 month

Haiti is grappling with a distressing escalation in gender-based violence, as reported by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Between January and September 2025, the country witnessed a staggering 13.5% increase in such cases, with over 7,400 incidents documented. Sexual violence, constituting slightly more than half of these cases, included nearly two-thirds involving gang rape. Alarmingly, two-thirds of the victims were internally displaced persons, highlighting the vulnerability of displaced populations. Despite these harrowing statistics, humanitarian efforts remain severely constrained. Only 7% of the targeted 833,000 individuals requiring specialized assistance were reached, primarily due to funding shortages and persistent insecurity. The response program faces a 70% funding gap, amounting to $13.5 million out of the required $19 million. This shortfall jeopardizes critical services for nearly 780,000 women and girls, including clinical care, mental health support, legal aid, and the provision of dignity kits. Access challenges further exacerbate the crisis, particularly for women in remote areas and those with disabilities. Nevertheless, humanitarian organizations are intensifying their efforts, offering psychosocial support, medical care, and legal assistance, while conducting over 32,000 awareness sessions and training 560 frontline workers. OCHA remains committed to collaborating with partners and national authorities to ensure victims can access essential services safely.