The ongoing gang violence in Haiti has led to a significant exodus from various cities, Since 2021, more than 578,000 people have left their homesAccording to the UN migration agency.

These mass displacements are putting a strain on already impoverished cities and towns across the country. The number of people fleeing has increased by 60 percent from March to May this year, driven by escalating attacks on critical infrastructure like the international airport and main seaport, as well as widespread opening of prisons and attacks across the capital, Port-au-Prince.

Due to the closure of the border by the Dominican Republic and the seizure of boats by neighbors in the region, Most of the displaced people are heading south, congregating in towns like Les Cayes, according to a recent report by The Washington Post.

The influx is exacerbating existing challenges. Mayor Claire Daphné France says the city, which has a population of 125,000, is now hosting an additional 30,000 displaced people, leading to increased insecurity and violence. The sudden population increase has strained local services, affecting schools, healthcare and basic utilities.The new school year, which was delayed by a month due to safety concerns, will begin with teacher and classroom shortages.

The security situation in Port-au-Prince remains dire, with paramilitary gangs still controlling about 80 percent of the capital. Nearly 1,400 people were reported injured or killed between April and June, with a notable increase in kidnappings and rapes by gang members. The violence has also led to an increase in the number of children living on the streets, many of whom are exposed to contact with gangs.

The Kenyan UN security force, the first group of which was deployed in June, has yet to show any significant results.

The transitional government and UN-backed security forces aim to stabilize the country and allow elections to be held by February 2026, but doubts remain about the feasibility of that timetable, including among Haitian officials. Humanitarian aid remains inadequate – only 25% of the requested $674 million has been delivered, and almost half of Haiti’s population faces serious food shortages.

The displacement has also strained education systems and local infrastructure. Many of the displaced have arrived unprepared, without the necessary documentation, for services such as banking and schooling. Schools in the south, already reeling from previous natural disasters, are ill-equipped to cope with the new influx of students.