Escalation in Haiti: Reaching Women and Girls Impacted by Humanitarian Crisis

Haitians have been left to cope with intensifying levels of violence, acute food and water scarcity, and displacement since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. In 2024, the number of Haitians requiring urgent humanitarian assistance has risen to 5.5 million, nearly half the population, an increase of 300,000 people compared to 2023. Women and girls have been disproportionately impacted in the crisis: there has been a 49 percent increase in gender-based violence, 63 percent have experienced forced displacement, and nearly 3,000 pregnant women are lacking maternal health services due to hospital looting. Humanitarian access constraints have been especially challenging for operational organizations and remain a key barrier to aiding the most vulnerable. The ongoing violence has left women and girls without vital resources and services. Experts in humanitarian assistance and coordination are working to respond to the situation, but continue to experience constraints in accessing key populations. This panel will bring together experts on gender and humanitarian assistance in Haiti and practitioners active in humanitarian response in Haiti to discuss challenges, opportunities, and strategies to provide more aid to Haitians in need, understand what impact the evolving political situation may have on humanitarian needs, and how international actors can support local actors on the ground. 

This event is made possible through the generous support of USAID.