UNITED NATIONS (CMC) — The United Nations (UN) on Wednesday said that violence continues to drive displacement in the Artibonite department of Haiti, following an armed attack in Petite-Rivière earlier this week.

Speaking at the daily UN press briefing, UN Spokesman Stéphane Dujarric shared that, “our humanitarian colleagues tell us…families had to flee to safer areas within the town and nearby communities” following the October 19 attack.

“That is what authorities are telling us. Sporadic gunfire continues to be reported, disrupting movement within the town. Our OCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) colleagues are working with partners and local authorities to monitor the situation and assess the needs of the displaced.”

Haitian authorities have since announced a state of emergency (SOE) until December 18 in the departments of West, Artibonite and Centre in order to combat the insecurity and are calling on the population to remain, saying it is fully aware of the need to support citizens in the face of measures taken which could seem contrary to the public interest.

Dujarric said that communities in Gros Morne, also in the Artibonite Department, continue to grapple with the consequences of violence that erupted at the end of September.

He said the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is reporting that more than 10,000 people have been displaced, and nearly all of them are staying with host families.

“Despite all of the challenges, and despite the insecurity, humanitarian operations have been able to resume. In October, our partners distributed 1,500 hot meals and hygiene kits to displaced families, and plan to deliver more than 2,000 kits with kitchen sets and plastic sheets in the coming week.”

Dujarric said that road access to reach people in need remains possible, but insecurity continues to put humanitarian operations at risk.

“Once again, we need safe, unhindered and rapid accessibility to those who need humanitarian help,” Dujarric said.

Meanwhile, the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) is holding a series of meetings with the government, security force officials, foreign partners, political stakeholders, and civil society representatives.

The CEP said the talks are aimed at publishing an updated electoral calendar, including a revised date for the elections, before the end of October.

On Monday, the United Nations Security Council was told that armed groups were adapting to intensified security operations, stepping up reprisals against civilians and extending their reach into rural areas.

Monday’s briefing came two weeks after presidential and legislative elections planned for December 13 were postponed indefinitely, with the UN’s top official in the country cautioning against setting new dates without a realistic assessment of whether a vote can be held.

Haiti has not held national elections since 2016, and Carlos Ruiz Massieu, the UN’s top official in Haiti, said nevertheless, preparations are ongoing.

He said more than 35 political parties and groups, and 3,500 candidates have registered, but that as of October 5, only 759,257 potential voters were on the lists, out of an estimated electorate of 6.5 million people.

Insecurity and mass displacement are further complicating the organisation of the election.

“Setting new dates for elections without a realistic assessment of their feasibility will only erode public confidence and the credibility of Haitian institutions,” he warned.