More than 700,000 people are displaced in Haiti, according to the UN
More than 700,000 people are now displaced from their homes in Haiti, more than half of whom are children, the United Nations said Wednesday, as gang violence ravages the country.
The UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM) agency said that by early September, some 702,973 people were displaced in Haiti.
"These latest figures show a 22 percent increase in the number of internally displaced people since June, highlighting the worsening humanitarian situation," the IOM said.
The agency called for greater international attention on the crisis.
"The sharp rise in displacement underscores the urgent need for a sustained humanitarian response," said Gregoire Goodstein, the IOM's chief in Haiti.
"We call on the international community to step up its support for Haiti's displaced populations and the host communities that continue to show remarkable resilience in the face of these challenges."
The report said around 75 percent of those displaced were now sheltering in the country's provinces.
The remainder are in Port-au-Prince "where the situation remains precarious and unpredictable", said the IOM, with people often living in overcrowded sites, with little to no access to basic services.
The agency said 83 percent of displaced people were being hosted by families.
"It is crucial that efforts to restore stability and security across the country continue, alongside humanitarian aid to alleviate the immediate suffering of those affected."
(with AFP)
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