Haiti’s Children Face Unrelenting Horror: 1,000% Rise in Sexual Violence.

Geneva:

A devastating report from UNICEF reveals a staggering 1,000% rise in sexual violence against children in Haiti, with a 10-fold increase recorded from 2023 to last year. This surge in violence is attributed to armed groups that have taken control of 85% of Port-au-Prince, leaving 1.2 million children under constant threat of armed violence.

The situation is dire, with essential services collapsing, hospitals overwhelmed, and over half of Haiti’s health facilities lacking equipment and medication to treat children in emergencies. Playgrounds, schools, and homes have turned into battlegrounds, forcing families to flee, with over 500,000 children displaced and an estimated 3 million requiring urgent humanitarian assistance this year.

*Key Statistics:*

1,000% rise in sexual violence against children_
85% of Port-au-Prince under armed group control_
1.2 million children under constant threat of armed violence_
500,000+ children displaced_
3 million requiring urgent humanitarian assistance_

The rise in child recruitment into armed groups is also alarming, with a 70% surge last year alone. Children as young as eight are being recruited, manipulated, or driven by extreme poverty into these groups, perpetuating a lethal cycle of violence.

Despite the challenges, Haitians refuse to give up. UNICEF’s 135,000 U-reporters in the country are working tirelessly to help those in need. Efforts include creating mobile safe spaces to prevent gender-based violence, deploying health professionals, distributing cash to families, and treating children for malnutrition.

However, UNICEF Haiti’s 2024 emergency funding appeal of US$221.4 million was 72% underfunded, highlighting the urgent need for support to prevent children from being drawn into violence. Without these efforts, violence will continue to consume future generations.