Violence and chaos engulf the capital
In the first few months of this year, the situation for children in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, has deteriorated dramatically. The country was already marked by political instability, crushing poverty and a history of natural disasters. Now, the omnipresent violence perpetrated by armed groups is turning playgrounds, schools and homes into battlefields and has severe consequences for the rest of Haiti as well.
Children are not safe in Port-au-Prince
Public institutions such as police stations, airports, ports and vital infrastructure such as hospitals are under attack. Essential services are on the brink of collapse. Countless children have no access to water, healthcare, or education. Hunger and fear dominate their daily lives. Thousands are forced to flee their homes.
The figures are more than alarming:
- More than 172,000 children have been forced to flee their homes.
- Millions of people have no access to water, sanitation or hygiene services.
- More than 3 million children, the highest number in the country’s history, urgently need humanitarian assistance.
- Hunger and malnutrition have reached an all-time high. Nearly 1 child in 4 suffers from chronic malnutrition. This number is expected to rise by 19 % in the coming months.
- The closure of more than 1.000 schools has affected the education of around 200.000 children.
- In Port-au-Prince, 3 out of 4 children and women have no access to basic health and nutrition services.
- 6 out of 10 hospitals are not operational, while cholera is likely to trigger a health crisis.
Violence & destruction
We need to act now!
This is a very critical moment. This is a crisis that will worsen unless the humanitarian response is scaled up urgently. Your support has the potential to shape a brighter future for children. With your help, we can continue to deliver humanitarian aid to children despite the ever-changing reality on the ground. In the most difficult circumstances and to the most remote areas.
Our aid on the ground
UNICEF is intensifying its efforts to protect children and families and provide them with the vital assistance they desperately need. We are doing this by supporting nutrition and health services, responding to the cholera outbreak, promoting safe learning environments, providing psychosocial support, and assisting with disaster recovery. To be able to continue this work, we urgently need your support.
Donate now to protect Haiti’s children!
