People fleeing violence in Haiti's capital urgently need water and sanitation

As violence and insecurity forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes in Port-au-Prince in recent months, Médecins Sans Frontières increased efforts to provide water, sanitation, and hygiene services (WASH) to people in makeshift camps across the city. Since fighting between armed groups and the government surged in February 2024, many people have fled their homes, seeking refuge in overcrowded shelters. 

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 such as schools, churches or sports fields. Many of these sites lack water supplies and sanitation facilities, such as latrines, leading to difficult and dangerous living conditions and increasing the risk of waterborne diseases. Through an emergency response, MSF provided more than 4.5 million litres of treated water in 15 sites, provided training to 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, MSF 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 in these conditions. However, the needs for treated water and sanitation in displacement sites and violence-affected neighbourhoods are far beyond what MSF can provide.

"Despite the help from MSF, the conditions are very tough. The international community must step up and support these vulnerable populations to prevent a larger catastrophe.", said Banatte Daniel, president of a displacement site at a school, ISBACOM.

« The camp opened on February 12th. At first, we received 30 people, and three hours later, we had 1,354. » - Banatte Daniel, president of a displacement site at a school, ISBACOM

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 said. Efforts are underway to identify actors that can continue to provide water in the 15 sites served by MSF beyond August 31, when MSF’s water and sanitation services in these areas are planned to end. 

“As an emergency medical organization, we stepped in to fill gaps in water and sanitation services when the health situation become critical and no other major actor could respond,” said Sophie Mealier, MSF head of mission. “Now that access to the existing sites has improved, it is time for other actors to meet these needs while we continue to focus on areas that are more difficult to reach and on critical health needs."

Prolonged displacement leads to further challenges, MSF staff say. 

"The majority of the sites have significant water, sanitation and hygiene problems,” explained Frenso Désir, MSF 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.”