Pourcine Pic Makaya – The humanitarian situation in Haiti
continues to deteriorate, with new waves of displacement reported in several departments. According to the International Organization for Migration , more than 2,600 people were displaced in the Artibonite department following clashes between armed groups last week. More than three-quarters of those displaced sought refuge in the municipality of Marchand Dessalines.
Meanwhile, in the West department, renewed fighting in the municipality of Cité Soleil, which began on June 13, has forced more than 5,000 people to flee their homes, according to the IOM.
These latest figures add to the thousands already displaced between March and May as a result of armed violence in the area.
The continuing violence has severely disrupted healthcare services, particularly for women and girls. The NGO Doctors Without Borders has been forced to suspend activities at its maternity facility in Cité Soleil, one of the most densely populated areas of Port-au-Prince, depriving thousands of women of access to maternal and reproductive healthcare.
These developments come amid a growing number of forced returns to Haiti. According to the IOM, more than 25,500 people were forcibly repatriated to the country in May 2026 alone. Overall, more than 117,000 people were repatriated between January and June 2026. Women accounted for 24 percent of all forcibly repatriated migrants during the first half of the year, while nearly 8 percent were children.
Against this backdrop, Haiti’s Catholic, Protestant, Adventist and other Christian churches continue to operate under extreme pressure as a result of gang control, displacement and the collapse of essential services. Many churches provide humanitarian assistance, shelter and basic services where the state is unable to do so, while facing threats, closures and severe operational constraints. Religious leaders have repeatedly appealed for peace and respect for human life.
Despite these hardships, the parish group KIWO, together with the project of the same name run by the Parish of Notre-Dame-du-Perpétuel-Secours, continues to bring hope and vitality to the Catholic community of Pourcine Pic Makaya, located in Haiti’s rugged mountain region. The mission is led by Camillian missionary Fr. Massimo Miraglio, who shared with Fides News Agency an account of the parish’s activities over the past weekend, when he and members of the KIWO group spent a day by the river.
“With around sixty children, young people and adults, we walked down into the valley,” Fr. Miraglio recounted. “After about an hour’s walk we reached our destination. We cleaned the area, prepared the fires for lunch and set up tarpaulins to provide shade from the sun. We then gathered for prayer and a brief presentation on the origins of the KIWO association, before enjoying the long-awaited swim and sharing a meal together. Late in the afternoon we set off again to return to Pourcine Pic Makaya.”
Reflecting on the school year that has just ended at the parish-school ‘Our Lady of Perpetual Help’, the missionary described a year marked by commitment and perseverance despite numerous challenges. Teachers continued to accompany children and young people through difficult circumstances, while noticeable progress was made both among the students and within their families.
“There are still many uncertainties for the coming school year,” Fr. Miraglio said. “But we continue to work with hope, taking one small step forward each year. Despite the difficulties, our students have improved in punctuality, attendance, personal hygiene and participation in extracurricular activities. A small minority achieved good academic results, but too many students still have very poor results. Discipline remains a major challenge.”
Furthermore,” he concludes, “we have just completed the Literacy School , whose final examination brought together participants from different local communities. Everyone worked hard and did their best to demonstrate what they had learned during six months of classes. We are now beginning preparations for the 2026–2027 school year. The ‘Alfa’ School is a wonderful project that is already beginning to bear good fruit in our community.”
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