UNITED NATIONS, (CMC)) – The United Nations Tuesday said that the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, particularly in the neighbourhood of Cité Soleil, following an escalation of armed violence in Haiti earlier this month.

Deputy UN spokesman, Farhan Haq, told the daily news briefing that the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is “coordinating the effort to ensure we can reach people in need more effectively”.

He said that according to new estimates by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), an estimated 17,500 people, or more than 4,200 households, have been displaced in the past two weeks.

“More than 80 per cent of the displaced people are taking shelter in 33 sites, while others are hosted by already vulnerable families. Assessments at the displacement sites point to rapidly growing needs for food, clean water, healthcare and hygiene supplies,” Haq told reporters, adding that “conditions at the sites, including poor lighting, are also raising concerns over people’s safety.

“ Children separated from their families, pregnant women and people with disabilities are at greater risk as a result. Our humanitarian partners continue to respond despite the insecurity and access constraints,” Haq said.

On May 10, a massive wave of armed gang violence and clashes erupted in the French speaking Caribbean Community (Caricom) country primarily affecting the Cité Soleil municipality and the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area.