Haiti Violence Leaves 300,000 Homeless: UNICEF

Asem Mustafa Awan

Islamabad: The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) issued a stark warning last week, revealing that violence in Haiti has led to the forced displacement of one child every minute, on average. 

With over 300,000 children already affected, the crisis has escalated dramatically, particularly in the capital city of Port-au-Prince, where gangs exert significant control.

According to UNICEF, more than half of the 600,000 people displaced by the violence in Haiti are children. This marks a 60 percent increase in displaced children since March alone, highlighting the rapid deterioration of security conditions due to ongoing clashes involving armed groups.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell emphasized the dire situation faced by Haitian children, describing it as a “humanitarian catastrophe.”

Displaced children, often separated from their families during the chaotic upheaval, are especially vulnerable to dropping out of school and becoming targets of sexual assault, exploitation, and other forms of abuse.

The deteriorating security situation has also led to an alarming trend where young people are increasingly joining armed groups, exacerbating the cycle of violence and instability in a nation where poverty affects 90 percent of the population and millions are in need of humanitarian assistance.

Efforts to stabilize Haiti have seen international involvement, including the recent deployment of Kenyan police as part of a UN-mandated mission.

This multinational effort aims to restore order and facilitate humanitarian aid access, crucially needed in areas controlled by gangs accused of severe human rights abuses such as murder, rape, looting, and kidnappings.

As the crisis deepens, UNICEF has called for urgent international support and funding to provide a safe environment for displaced children and address the escalating humanitarian needs in Haiti.

The writer is a journalist based in Islamabad and writes on a wide range of issues.

Photo Credit: AP FilePhoto