UN Chief Warns Haiti Faces Life-and-Death Humanitarian Crisis

The United Nations has issued a dire warning about Haiti's worsening humanitarian crisis, describing it as a "life and death emergency" exacerbated by rampant gang violence and a collapse of basic services. UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted a 490% increase in grave violations against children from 2023 to 2025, with children constituting 50% of active gang members and suffering from recruitment, killings, and sexual violence. Despite 6 million people needing humanitarian assistance and 1.3 million displaced, Haiti remains the least funded humanitarian appeal globally, having received less than 10% of the $908 million requested for 2025. UNICEF's Catherine Russell emphasized the unimaginable suffering endured by Haiti's youth, citing a 700% increase in child recruitment by armed groups and a 54% rise in killings and maiming. Humanitarian aid efforts are being blocked by armed groups, and with ongoing attacks on schools, over 240,000 children have had their education interrupted. Both Guterres and UNICEF called on the international community to increase funding and leverage to protect children and support concrete actions amid this crisis.