2 December 2024 - As Haiti grapples with escalating violence and systemic collapse, its children are bearing the brunt of a multipronged crisis that threatens their lives, safety, and future.
That was the stark message heard during a special session on Monday convened by the (ECOSOC), where UN officials and humanitarian leaders highlighted the dire conditions in Haiti and called for immediate action to support its youngest citizens.
, and 700,000 displaced, urgent international intervention is needed to address a crisis compounded by armed groups violence, economic instability, and insufficient humanitarian funding.
Dire reality
UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher – who took up his post two weeks ago – emphasised the devastating impact of the crisis on children: "The children of Haiti are displaced. They are malnourished. They live in fear, their neighbourhoods controlled by armed groups.”
The Executive Director of the UN Children’s Fund () Catherine Russell further elaborated on the situation: “We estimate that children account for 30 to 54 per cent of armed group members while the total number of has jumped by 70 per cent over the past year."
She also highlighted the collapse of essential services, with 1.5 million youngsters losing access to education and healthcare facilities shutting down due to violence and insecurity.
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