An alarming 3.3 million children, the highest number on record, require humanitarian assistance, with increasing cases of acute malnutrition, child recruitment, gender-based violence, and other violations of children’s rights.
“Children in Haiti are being displaced at a distressing pace and scale,” said UNICEF chief Catherine Russell. “Each time they are forced to flee, they lose not only their homes but also their chance to go to school, to be safe, and to simply be children.”
‘Unprecedented’ Displacement
Decades of crises, from deadly earthquakes to political instability and economic chaos, have resulted in one of the world’s most complex humanitarian emergencies in Haiti. Armed gangs now control over 85% of Port-au-Prince and key roads, cutting families off from food, healthcare, and protection, forcing them to flee. Over 2.7 million people, including 1.6 million women and children, are estimated to be living under the control of armed groups. The report highlights an unprecedented scale of displacement, with 246 refuge sites established nationwide in just the first half of this year.
Education Under Siege
In Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas, classrooms have become targets and shelters. Over 1,600 schools were closed, and 25 were occupied by gangs, depriving many thousands of students of the opportunity to learn. Additional barriers include gang violence and school closures, along with the cost of education. Only 15 to 20% of schools are public, and even these require families to pay for textbooks and uniforms.
A Call for Action
UNICEF has treated over 86,000 children with wasting, a life-threatening form of malnutrition, and provided healthcare to 117,000 people, reaching 140,000 individuals with safe water, among other efforts. However, the agency’s work is severely underfunded, and without an immediate influx of resources, critical programs will be severely constrained.
“The children of Haiti cannot wait,” warned Ms. Russell. “Like every child, they deserve a chance to be safe, healthy, and to live in peace. It is up to us to take action for Haiti’s children now.”
A mother holds her daughter at a makeshift shelter in a school after fleeing attacks by armed groups in Port-au-Prince.
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