The United Nations has issued a stark warning about the plight of children in Haiti, revealing that nearly half of the country’s armed gang members are minors. Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF, delivered the harrowing update during a UN meeting focused on the escalating humanitarian crisis in Haiti.
UNICEF estimates that children now make up approximately 50% of armed group members in Haiti, with the number of minors recruited by gangs surging by 70% over the past year. These children are often coerced into roles as informants, cooks, and sex slaves, and many are forced to commit acts of violence.
Russell underscored the severity of the crisis: “Gangs regularly kill and maim children, and incidents of sexual violence against minors have risen by an alarming 1,000% this year.”
Haiti has been mired in chaos since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. Armed gangs have exploited the political vacuum, seizing control of up to 85% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and extending their influence into surrounding regions.
The resulting violence has displaced over 700,000 people, with half of them being children. Hunger and malnutrition are rampant; the World Food Program reports that 5.4 million Haitians are facing acute hunger, with famine-like conditions particularly severe in displacement shelters. An estimated 125,000 children are acutely malnourished.
Inga King, representing Caricom, lamented the dire situation: “Why is it easier for a young person to get a gun than it is to get food? That is the defining question of the moment.”
Jean Jean Roosevelt, a Haitian musician and UNICEF goodwill ambassador, called for prioritizing the protection of children. Speaking at the UN, he performed a song, “Watch Out Children,” aimed at discouraging youth from joining gangs.
Canadian Ambassador Bob Rae stressed the necessity of restoring stability: “If you don’t have security, you don’t have the foundation for peace, development, and human rights.”
In June, a multinational security support mission (MSS) began deploying about 400 Kenyan police officers, supported by personnel from Jamaica and Belize, to assist Haiti’s embattled national police in tackling gang violence. Despite their efforts, the mission has faced delays, shortages of resources, and an escalation in violence.
Haiti’s transitional government has since appealed to the UN Security Council to consider transforming the MSS into a formal UN peacekeeping mission. While UN Secretary-General António Guterres has suggested this should be a last resort, discussions are underway.
The United States and Ecuador are drafting a resolution for the Security Council to begin preparations for a peacekeeping operation. However, negotiations remain contentious, with U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield noting resistance from some council members.
“This is what the Haitian people have asked for,” Thomas-Greenfield said, emphasizing the importance of aligning international efforts with the needs on the ground.
As Haiti grapples with its worst crisis in decades, the international community faces immense pressure to act decisively. Addressing the recruitment of children into gangs and protecting the nation’s youth are critical steps in restoring security and rebuilding a nation devastated by violence and instability.
