UNICEF Reports 70% Rise in Child Recruitment by Gangs in Haiti

UNICEF has reported a staggering 70% increase in the recruitment of children by gangs in Haiti over the past year, now comprising up to 50% of gang members. This alarming trend is driven by extreme poverty, political instability, and escalating violence, particularly in Port-au-Prince where gangs control 85% of the area. Children are coerced into various roles, including informants and fighters, while girls face domestic servitude and sexual exploitation. The dire economic conditions, with over 60% of Haitians living on less than $4 a day, make recruitment easier for gangs. UNICEF emphasizes that these children are victims, often threatened or abducted if they refuse to join. Immediate action is needed to protect Haiti's youth from this bleak cycle of violence and exploitation.