Port-au-Prince, Haiti – In the volatile neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince, violence is a tragic norm. The most recent clashes between rival gangs and the police in Carrefour Feuilles have displaced thousands of people, many of whom have been uprooted multiple times for years. The area, plagued by gang violence for years, continues to drive families from their homes, forcing them to start over again and again.
Yet even amid the chaos of displacement, stories of resilience and community emerge from places like the Virginie sans Peur and Parc 10 displacement sites. These sites, though meant to be temporary shelters, have become makeshift homes where many find new ways to rebuild their lives. People draw strength from each other, showing that even in the harshest of circumstances, hope can persist.
“It’s not just about surviving”
In the shaded areas of the Virginie sans Peur IDP site, a group of displaced men gather. Their faces, worn by years of violence, reflect both exhaustion and resilience. These men, all from Carrefour Feuilles, a neighborhood in the south of the Haitian capital, have been displaced not just once but multiple times, as waves of gang violence disrupt their lives year after year. For them, displacement has become a brutal cycle, with each new clash forcing them to flee and try rebuilding their lives yet again.
“Every time the violence gets worse, we run. And when we run, we lose everything. But when we’re together, it’s a little easier,” says one of the men. “It’s not just about surviving – it’s about staying human, staying connected. That’s what gets us through.”
The community they have built in Virginie sans Peur is their way of fighting back against the uncertainty and fear that displacement brings. This displacement site in the heart of Port-au-Prince is just a few kilometers north of the inaccessible homes in Carrefour Feuilles. There, people repair shelters, look out for each other and provide each other with the emotional support that only those who have shared such hardships can understand.
Together, they’ve created a fragile but vital sense of stability, even as the threat of further violence and displacement looms large. This self-support comes in addition to psychosocial support provided by humanitarian organizations such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Born in displacement
Solange, a young mother, cradles her son Frantz, born in displacement at the Virginie sans Peur site. Photo: IOM/Antoine Lemonnier
Solange keeps her son close, shielding him from the harsh realities of displacement and focusing on building a safer future, despite the challenges around them. Photo: IOM/Antoine Lemonnier
On a worn blanket in another part of Virginie sans Peur, Solange, a young mother, cradles her young son, Frantz, born displaced. Like many youngsters, Frantz has only known displacement; having a home is a concept his mom hopes he will get to experience. Solange fled violence in Carrefour Feuilles more times than she can remember. “I don’t even know how many times we’ve left our home. It’s like we can never stop running.”
Her face, lined with worry, reveals the strain of constantly living in survival mode. Yet, her movements are steady and purposeful as she cares for her son, ensuring that he feels as little of their hardship as possible. “He doesn’t understand any of this,” Solange explains, glancing down at him. “And I don’t want him to. He shouldn’t have to.”
Despite the uncertainty, Solange remains hopeful. Her strength is not just in surviving displacement – it’s in protecting her son’s innocence in a world that threatens to take it from him. “I have to stay strong for him,” she says. “Frantz is all I have left. I need to give him a future, even if that means that we have to keep running for now.”
For women like her, the burden of displacement is heavy. But she focuses on giving her son a chance at a future, even if that future is still far from certain.
Jonathan, 15, gazes out from the bus that has become his temporary home at Parc 10. Photo: IOM/Antoine Lemonnier
“I miss learning”
At the Parc 10 internally displaced persons (IDP) site, 15-year-old Jonathan sits inside an old bus that has become his temporary home. His gaze drifts through the cracked window, watching the world outside with a mixture of longing and reflection. “I miss school,” he says quietly. “I used to go every day. Now I just wait, hoping things will get better.”
Jonathan’s family fled Carrefour Feuilles when the violence intensified, seeking refuge in Parc 10 – a former garage now transformed into a giant shelter for hundreds of displaced people. For teenagers like him, displacement has stolen more than just a home – it has taken away the normalcy of adolescence. His days, once filled with learning and playing with friends, are now consumed by uncertainty.
“I miss my friends. I miss learning. One day, I want to be a teacher. I want to help other kids, like my teacher helped and inspired me.”
For displaced children and youth, the consequences of violence are especially profound, shaping their lives from the very beginning, rooting them in poverty.
Parc 10 bustles with activity as displaced families and mechanics share the space. Abandoned buses offer shelter to over 1,300 individuals seeking refuge from violence. Photo: IOM/Antoine Lemonnier
Living in an abandoned bus
Parc 10 is no ordinary IDP site. Originally a functioning garage, it now hosts over 1,300 displaced individuals who live amidst the buses and cars that once served a different purpose. The vehicles, abandoned but not forgotten, now provide shelter for families with nowhere else to go. Life here is a strange blend of the past and present mechanics continue their work on cars, while families carve out routines amid the mechanical hum of tools and engines.
The conditions are far from ideal. Privacy is a rare commodity, and the buses, though better than nothing, offer little comfort. Yet, the displaced individuals here have adapted, making the best of a difficult situation.
At Parc 10, families take shelter in vehicles that once symbolized mobility, now transformed into makeshift homes. Photo: IOM/Antoine Lemonnier
As the day draws to a close in Parc 10, the sight of people living in abandoned buses serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by displaced communities in Port-au-Prince. These vehicles, once symbols of mobility and progress, now stand as immobile shelters for families who have lost everything. Yet even in these difficult conditions, the people here show an impressive spirit of endurance.
Their strength lies not just in survival, but in their ability to adapt and rebuild. Whether it is men forming new communities, mothers protecting their children, or teenagers holding on to their dreams, displaced people in Port-au-Prince demonstrate resilience in the face of adversity.
A sense of control
In both Virginie sans Peur, Parc 10, and many other places, IOM’s assistance ensures that even in the midst of crisis, displaced individuals have access to essential services. IOM provides clean water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities to ensure basic health needs are met, while its protection services safeguard vulnerable people, particularly women and children.
Psychosocial support also helps those traumatized by repeated displacement to process their experiences and regain a sense of control over their lives. This support is critical in helping vulnerable Haitians maintain their mental health and find the strength to continue forward.
An ECHO delegation visits the Parc 10 IDP site in Port-au-Prince. Photo: IOM/Antoine Lemonnier
IOM’s work in Port-au-Prince is made possible thanks to the support of the European Union, through the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) funding. This vital partnership ensures that displaced communities receive essential services like clean water, sanitation, protection, and psychosocial support, as well as helps restore dignity and hope to those affected by violence and displacement, enabling them to begin rebuilding their lives.
This story was written by Antoine Lemonnier, IOM Haiti Communications Officer.
