UN reports tenfold rise in child sexual violence in Haiti

The UN has reported a shocking 1,000% increase in sexual violence against children in Haiti, primarily due to rampant gang control over 85% of Port-au-Prince. This staggering rise has turned children's bodies into battlegrounds, with armed groups increasingly recruiting children, some as young as eight. UNICEF spokesperson James Elder highlighted the dire situation, sharing the harrowing experience of a 16-year-old girl who was abducted and raped by gang members. Additionally, gang violence has led to over 5,600 deaths in the past year, with kidnappings and child recruitment into armed groups surging dramatically. The Haitian transitional government struggles to manage the escalating violence, and humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate. With over 1.2 million children living under constant threat, the situation in Haiti remains critical, calling for urgent international attention and intervention.