Haiti’s ongoing crisis has reached alarming levels, with children increasingly becoming victims of gang violence. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has called for urgent intervention, describing the attacks on children as “an attack on humanity itself.”
The Caribbean nation has faced rising levels of gang-related violence in recent years. The United Nations’ International Organization for Migration has reported a sharp increase in the number of internally displaced people, which has now surpassed one million. Armed gangs have gained control over large parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince, causing the collapse of essential services such as healthcare and worsening food insecurity.
The situation for children has become particularly dire. UNICEF Representative in Haiti, Geeta Narayan, emphasized the severity of the crisis, revealing that children are now being directly targeted by armed groups. She highlighted shocking incidents, including the tragic death of a student who was struck by stray bullets while in class and the horrific case of a two-month-old baby who was burned alive in front of their mother.
“This is more than violence,” Narayan stated. “It is an attack on humanity itself.”
UNICEF has urged the Haitian government and the international community to take immediate steps to protect children, uphold their rights, and ensure their safety. Narayan stressed that no child should have to live in fear.
The crisis has also led to a disturbing increase in child recruitment by armed groups. According to a UNICEF report published in November, the number of children forced into gang activities has surged by 70%. Amnesty International estimates that children make up between 30% and 50% of gang members in Haiti.
Many of these children are coerced into various roles, including serving as informants, fighters, or cooks. Some are subjected to sexual exploitation and forced to become “wives” of gang members. Those who resist face severe consequences, including threats to their families.
Narayan warned that the world must not remain silent in the face of these atrocities. She called for immediate action to protect Haiti’s children from further harm and ensure their fundamental rights are safeguarded.
The deteriorating security situation in Haiti continues to place millions at risk, with children bearing the brunt of the violence. As UNICEF and other humanitarian organizations push for urgent intervention, the international community is under growing pressure to respond to the escalating crisis.