UNICEF Reports 70% Rise in Child Recruitment in Haiti

In Haiti, the alarming recruitment of children by armed gangs has surged by 70% over the past year, with UNICEF estimating that children now comprise nearly half of all gang members. These minors are often coerced into roles as informants, cooks, and even sex slaves, while reported incidents of sexual violence against children have surged by 1,000%. The humanitarian crisis in Haiti is severe, with over 700,000 people displaced and approximately 5.4 million facing acute hunger, exacerbated by the ongoing violence that has intensified since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. UN officials and humanitarian agencies have called for urgent action to protect the vulnerable child population, who are increasingly trapped in a cycle of violence and poverty. The Catholic Bishops Conference of Haiti has also issued a cry for peace amid the chaos, highlighting the dire conditions in the capital, Port-au-Prince. As the situation continues to deteriorate, the need for international support and intervention becomes more pressing.