Haiti: Violence and Displacement in Artibonite Department - Flash Update (as of 31 March 2026)

This report is produced with the support of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in collaboration with humanitarian partners and based on available information.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Between 19 and 70 people were killed and dozens more injured as a result of the violence in the Artibonite department.
• According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 5,291 people have been displaced.
• Armed attacks continue in several localities across the department.
• OCHA and its partners continue to coordinate the ongoing response efforts

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Between 28 and 31 March 2026, attacks carried out by the armed group Grand Griffe in the locality of Jean Denis, in Lower Artibonite, resulted in between 19 and 70 deaths and several hundred injuries, according to our partners. Many residents fled to neighboring communes, and numerous houses were burned to the ground. The Communal Civil Protection Committee (CCPC) of Dessalines reported that several injured individuals were treated at Claire Heureuse Hospital, including a 14-year-old minor.

According to IOM, approximately 5,291 displaced persons (1,359 households) have been recorded following these attacks. Among them, 81 percent are hosted by host families, while 19 percent are staying in five pre-existing sites. More than half of the displaced population (52 percent) have taken refuge in the commune of Dessalines.

The situation remains volatile and unpredictable. Access to the locality remains difficult for humanitarian actors, making any precise assessment of needs and damage highly challenging.