PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) – The director general of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Amy Pope, arrived in Haiti on Monday at the start of a three-day visit, meeting with high-level government officials, donors, partners and Haitians who have contributed to and benefited from IOM initiatives.

Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesman for the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said that while in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country, she is scheduled to meet with the Prime Minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, and other senior officials to discuss urgent humanitarian needs and IOM’s support to displaced communities. He said she is also planning to discuss durable solutions and migration governance efforts.

“This morning, Ms Pope visited a site for internally displaced people, where she met with families impacted by gang violence, and she also addressed IOM staff during a town hall meeting, recognising their commitment under extremely challenging conditions,” he said, adding that on Wednesday, the IOM official will brief reporters about her visit to Haiti.

Last week, the IOM said armed attacks in the past few weeks in the Centre department’s communes of Saut d’Eau and Mirebalais have displaced more than 30,000 people.

It said the vast majority of them have remained in the department and, together with other partners, are providing assistance, including food, hygiene kits, safe water and psychosocial support.