Over 7,000 Displaced by Armed Violence in Petite Rivière de l'Artibonite, IOM Reports

Approximately 7,250 people, or 1,637 households, were displaced following armed violence that began on 19 October 2026 in the municipality of Petite Rivière, in Haiti's Artibonite department, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The violence primarily affected the town centre of the 2nd communal section of Bas Coursin 2, as well as the locality of L'Amour within the same section, forcing residents of these and surrounding areas to flee. IOM's Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) reported that 60 per cent of those displaced found refuge in the municipality of Petite Rivière de l'Artibonite, while 40 per cent fled to the neighbouring municipality of Verrettes. The majority, 86 per cent, were taken in by host families, while the remaining 14 per cent settled at two sites that existed prior to the incidents. The figures were published as part of IOM's Emergency Tracking Tool 112. Separately, the agency reported that armed violence on 18 October 2026 in the municipality of Arcahaie, in the West department, displaced approximately 2,884 people (701 households), all of whom remained within Arcahaie. IOM said the DTM continues to monitor the situation and will provide updates should there be further developments.