Gang Violence Escalation Displaces Thousands in Port-au-Prince
Continued gang-related territorial seizures and armed violence across Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, forced a massive exodus of civilians in late May 2026. According to the UN's migration agency (IOM), tracking a specific two-week surge culminating on May 26, approximately 17,500 new people were displaced by ground battles and direct assaults. The majority of these displaced individuals crowded into 33 spontaneous shelter sites to escape the violence, while others sought refuge with vulnerable host families.
Date: May 20, 2026
Location: Haiti
Conflict: Haiti Gang Conflict
Category: ground battle
Severity: CRITICAL
Displaced: 17,500
Source: UN News