UNICEF: Displacement of 680,000 Children Fleeing Gang Violence in Haiti

SadaNews - A report by UNICEF has stated that the number of children displaced due to gang violence in Haiti is estimated at 680,000, urging the international community to increase assistance to this Caribbean nation.

The UNICEF report noted, "The number of children displaced by violence in Haiti has nearly doubled over the past year, with the current figure standing at 680,000 children."

The agency added in its report, "The number of children in need of humanitarian assistance exceeds 3.3 million."

Roberto Benes, the agency's director for Latin America and the Caribbean, told AFP, "Haiti is on the brink of collapse, and we must clarify that this generation cannot continue to wait for help to arrive."

In 2024, the UN verified over 2,269 "serious violations" against 1,373 children, including 213 who were killed, 138 injured, and 566 victims of sexual violence (including 406 cases of rape and 160 cases of gang rape), and 302 who were recruited by gangs.

UNICEF estimates that 2.7 million people, including 1.6 million women and children, currently live in gang-controlled areas, which is nearly a quarter of the population.

The report indicated that "trauma, for countless children, is a daily reality," warning that "a whole generation is at risk of growing up, not only in fear but also under constant exposure to violence and exploitation," unless "urgent protection" is provided.