Gangs Tighten Grip on Haiti; 6.4 Million Need Humanitarian Aid as Violence Spreads North

Multiple reports published on March 25, 2026 confirmed that gang violence has spread well beyond Port-au-Prince, with Viv Ansanm and allied groups fortifying control over the Artibonite and Centre departments and key maritime and overland supply corridors. Approximately 1.4 million people—the majority in Port-au-Prince—have been internally displaced, with roughly half being children under 18. About half of all active gang members are estimated to be under 18 years old. Several hospitals have shut down due to violence, including a major facility in Mirebalais that previously served 185,000 patients. An estimated 6.4 million Haitians—more than half the population—require humanitarian assistance. Gang-controlled checkpoints continue to block vital medicines and food supplies. The Humanitarian Response Plan for 2026 seeks $880 million but had secured only 24% of needed funding by late 2025.