The humanitarian situation in Haiti has reached a critical stage, with six million people in urgent need of assistance and 1.3 million displaced, half of them children. The UN chief highlighted that Haiti is now among the world’s five hunger hotspots of “highest concern,” yet it remains the least funded humanitarian appeal globally, with less than 10 percent of the required $908 million received. Armed groups continue to block aid and attack humanitarian workers, leaving around 1.7 million people at risk of receiving no assistance. The UN described the situation as a life-and-death emergency, urging donors to act immediately before lifesaving operations collapse.
Basic services across the country have largely broken down, and mass displacement has left children without access to education, healthcare, or safety. By April, gang violence had disrupted schooling for approximately 243,000 children, with continued attacks on educational facilities. UNICEF Chief Catherine Russell reported “unimaginable suffering” among Haiti’s youth, noting that grave violations against children verified by the UN last year had surged nearly 500 percent compared to the previous year. Particularly alarming is the 700 percent rise in recruitment and use of children by armed groups, with children now representing half of all active gang members in the country. The UN called for immediate measures to protect children and prevent further violations.
Despite the dire situation, the UN Secretary-General noted “emerging signals of hope,” citing improved coordination between the Prime Minister’s Task Force, the Haitian National Police, and the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), authorized by the Security Council in October 2023. This Kenyan-led mission aims to help Haitian authorities address gang violence and restore security, particularly in the capital. However, the UN emphasized that more decisive international support is needed to protect and expand these fragile gains, urging the Security Council to authorize additional UN-backed logistical and operational support, along with predictable financing, to strengthen the mission and address the ongoing crisis effectively.
