Deandrea Hamilton
Editor
Haiti, May 15, 2025 – Haiti is facing an escalating humanitarian catastrophe as gang violence continues to spread across the country, forcing tens of thousands to flee and placing children at immense risk. According to the United Nations, a recent spike in armed conflict in the Lower Artibonite and Centre Departments has displaced over 66,000 people in less than two weeks — including at least 15,000 children. The displaced now seek shelter in overcrowded rural zones or makeshift sites, where access to clean water, food, and basic healthcare is dangerously limited.
Between April 28 and May 3 alone, over 16,000 people fled their homes in Lower Artibonite, with families living in precarious conditions and reliant on emergency aid. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is leading coordination efforts to support national authorities in addressing priority needs. In response, UNICEF has deployed mobile clinics, delivering essential pediatric care and immunization services to nearly 2,000 people. Hygiene kits and nutritional support are also being distributed to prevent further deterioration of health conditions in displacement sites.
The situation for children is especially dire. Many are being exposed to or directly affected by violence, including forced recruitment into armed groups, sexual violence, and family separation. UNICEF and its partners are responding by establishing child-friendly spaces and delivering psychosocial support to more than 1,400 children. Specialized case management is underway, with at least 150 high-risk cases referred to protection services.
Despite these efforts, humanitarian needs far exceed current funding. The 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan identifies over $44 million needed for child protection alone. Yet, to date, only about $68 million of the total $908 million required for the entire country has been secured—just 7 percent of the target. As Haiti braces for the approaching hurricane season, the urgent call for international support has never been more critical.
Haiti’s complex crisis—driven by gang control, political instability, and chronic underdevelopment—demands sustained global attention. Without swift, coordinated action, an entire generation risks being lost to violence, displacement, and neglect
PHOTO CAPTION: © UNICEF/Herold Josep
Dozens of people displaced from the Haitian communes of Mirebalais and Saut-d’Eau attend hygiene awareness sessions in Boucan Carré.
