The United Nations has expressed profound alarm over a dramatic escalation in gender-based violence across Haiti, revealing an estimated 8,000 reported cases in the past year—marking a 25 percent surge compared to the previous period. UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric emphasized that due to significant underreporting, this figure represents merely a fraction of the actual incidents.
Dujarric detailed the horrific conditions facing survivors, noting that attacks frequently occur within overcrowded displacement sites where emergency care remains severely limited. Only 30 percent of survivors manage to receive critical assistance within the crucial 72-hour window, substantially increasing risks of sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies. Chronic underfunding has further crippled support systems, leaving victims without access to legal assistance, child protection services, or safe shelter.
To address this humanitarian emergency, the UN and its partners are seeking $24 million in funding to implement comprehensive prevention and response measures targeting 1.5 million people with medical, psychological, and support services.
Concurrently, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is intensifying efforts to monitor water quality in Port-au-Prince’s displacement camps to prevent cholera outbreaks. With support from the European Union’s Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid Delegation, displaced families are participating in practical simulations to strengthen safe water practices.
Separately, the UN expressed growing concern over Cuba’s deteriorating fuel shortages and their cascading effects on critical services. The scarcity has disrupted clean water delivery, medical care, food distribution, and other essential aid, particularly in regions devastated by Hurricane Melissa last October. There are additional concerns that airport operations could be compromised, further hampering relief efforts.
The UN team in Cuba previously launched a $74 million action plan last November to support national recovery efforts for the more than two million people affected by Hurricane Melissa. However, with only 23 percent of required funding secured, the organization issued an urgent call for additional resources to ensure aid reaches vulnerable populations.