The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that gender-based violence in Haiti has reached alarming levels. Between January and July 2025, more than 6,200 incidents were reported by service providers. Nearly half of these were rapes, 75% of which were reportedly committed by members of armed groups. Adult women are the most affected, but one in seven victims is a minor girl.

OCHA emphasizes that displacement amplifies the risks : just over half of the incidents involved internally displaced people. Yet, only a quarter of rape victims were able to access medical care within the critical 72-hour timeframe due to insecurity, stigma, weak referral systems, and a lack of health facilities in remote areas.

In response, 44 humanitarian partners, including UN agencies, assisted nearly 20,000 people with medical care, psychosocial support, legal assistance, dignity kits, emergency shelter, and case management between January and July of this year. However, services remain heavily concentrated in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and the Artibonite department, where most partners are based. Other regions, particularly the Centre and Grand Sud regions, receive very limited support.

OCHA emphasizes that chronic underfunding, combined with severe access constraints, deprives the vast majority of victims of lifesaving care. Only 18% of the $19 million needed to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in Haiti has been received to date. Urgent support is needed to expand services to underserved areas and protect women and girls throughout the country.

IH/ iciHaiti