Since a surge in fighting between armed groups and the government in February 2024, many people in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, have fled their homes, seeking refuge in overcrowded and informal displacement sites. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams have increased efforts to provide people with water, sanitation, and hygiene services.
Over 578,000 people are now displaced in Haiti, with more than 112,000 living in 96 informal sites in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area. These informal sites include schools, churches, and sports fields. Many lack water supplies and sanitation facilities, such as latrines, which leads to difficult and dangerous living conditions that increase the risk of waterborne diseases.
Through an emergency response, MSF provided more than 4.5 million litres of treated water in 15 of the sites, trained site managers on water chlorination and hygiene, built or renovated nine latrines and nine emergency showers, and distributed hygiene kits.
In areas with inadequate access to treated water and latrines, our mobile clinics have treated hundreds of people for waterborne diseases including acute watery diarrhoea and scabies, a skin condition linked to hygiene. Cholera, which has surged several times in Port-au-Prince since 2022, remains a significant threat under these conditions.
The need for treated water and sanitation in displacement sites and violence-affected neighbourhoods are far beyond what MSF can provide.
The camp opened on 12 February. At first, we received 30 people, and three hours later, we had 1,354.Banatte Daniel, president of a displacement site located at a school
“The camp opened on 12 February,” says Banatte Daniel, president of a displacement site located at a school. “At first, we received 30 people, and three hours later, we had 1,354. Despite the help from MSF, the conditions are very tough. The international community must step up and support these vulnerable people to prevent a larger catastrophe.”
Marie-Ange, a 52-year-old resident of a displacement camp, explained that finding water is a real struggle.
“Sometimes, the water we have causes skin problems, but we have no other choice but to use it for washing and laundry,” she says.
Efforts are underway to identify organisations that can continue to provide water in the 15 sites served by MSF beyond 31 August, when our water and sanitation services in these areas are planned to end.
Frenso Désir, water and sanitation supervisor in Port-au-Prince
The majority of the sites have significant water, sanitation and hygiene problems. Waste management is a persistent issue, exacerbated by the control of armed groups over disposal sites.
“As an emergency medical organisation, we stepped in to fill gaps in water and sanitation services when the health situation become critical and no other major organisation could respond,” says Sophie Mealier, MSF’s head of mission. “Now that access to the existing sites has improved, it is time for others to meet these needs while we continue to focus on areas that are more difficult to reach and on critical health needs.”
“The majority of the sites have significant water, sanitation and hygiene problems,” says Frenso Désir, water and sanitation project supervisor. “For instance, while MSF provides potable water and other services, sanitation remains a major challenge. Waste management is a persistent issue, exacerbated by the control of armed groups over disposal sites.”
We call for more humanitarian aid to address the dire needs of displaced communities. Water, sanitation and hygiene services are especially needed. These services include water trucking, latrine and shower rehabilitation, hygiene kit distribution, and health and hygiene promotion. We also urge stakeholders to allocate the necessary resources to ensure the safety and dignity of displaced people.