UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Highlights Resilience and Urgent Needs of Haiti’s Children Amid Ongoing Crisis.
Port-au-Prince:
Following a four-day visit to Haiti, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaiban has called attention to the devastating impact of the country’s ongoing crisis on its children, stressing the urgent need for international support and humanitarian action. Haiti, grappling with escalating violence and insecurity, continues to face a severe humanitarian crisis that is putting the lives and futures of its youngest population at risk.
During his visit, Chaiban witnessed firsthand the dire conditions in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and other affected regions, where armed groups control an estimated 85% of the city and large parts of the Artibonite region. The violence has displaced hundreds of thousands, with over a million children now at risk. Access to basic services such as food, healthcare, and education has been significantly restricted, leaving children vulnerable to injury, trauma, malnutrition, and exploitation.
A Crisis That Cannot Be Ignored
“Spending four days with communities and partners in Haiti underscored how heavy the toll is for children and young people in the country,” Chaiban remarked. “Vulnerable families are being pushed to the edge of catastrophe, with chaos continuing to deprive children of lifesaving services and exposing them to severe protection risks. Their present and future are literally under attack.”
Chaiban visited a school-turned-displacement site in Port-au-Prince, which is now housing more than 7,000 people, including over 3,500 children. Families have been forced to flee their homes in the face of gunfire and violence, leaving behind everything they once had. Chaiban described the trauma of these families, particularly mothers and children, who spoke of running for their lives, witnessing their homes being burned, and having their access to essential services abruptly cut off.
The Growing Vulnerability of Children
The situation for children in Haiti is particularly dire. Many are caught in the crossfire of violent confrontations, with some being injured, displaced, or orphaned. The lack of protection and access to education is worsening their plight. Nearly 1.5 million children in Haiti are now out of school, and hundreds of schools have been destroyed or occupied by armed groups or displaced persons.
Despite these challenges, Chaiban also witnessed the resilience of Haitian children and families. In a displacement site, he met a 14-year-old girl who, despite having suffered unimaginable trauma—including rape and being shot in the face—continues to attend school. The girl shared her dream of becoming a doctor, demonstrating the enduring hope that persists even amid the worst of circumstances.
However, for many children in Haiti, this hope is at risk. Without access to education and protection, they face the grim possibility of being recruited into armed groups or subjected to further violence, particularly girls who are at heightened risk of sexual violence.
A Critical Humanitarian Situation
The ongoing violence has devastated Haiti’s already fragile health system. More than half of the country’s hospitals are no longer operational, with only one public hospital functioning in the capital. Chaiban visited a health center in Gonaives, Artibonite, which serves up to 500 people a day, including pregnant women, new mothers, and children suffering from malnutrition and sexual violence. The medical director of the center emphasized that without continued support from UNICEF, they would not be able to keep their doors open.
“Haiti’s healthcare system is collapsing under the pressure of ongoing violence, but social service delivery systems are still functioning in areas outside of the control of armed groups,” Chaiban said. “These systems must be sustained to continue providing essential services to children and families.”
Urgent Funding and Global Support Needed
UNICEF is committed to providing a targeted and effective humanitarian response, but Chaiban emphasized that continued international support is critical. The humanitarian appeal for Haiti currently stands at US$272 million, but to date, only US$15 million has been received. UNICEF is focused on addressing the most urgent needs, including reaching 128,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition, a condition that significantly increases the risk of death if left untreated.
“This funding crisis is not unique to Haiti—it’s a global issue,” Chaiban noted. “The most vulnerable children around the world are bearing the brunt. What I saw in Haiti was some of the most vulnerable children in desperate need of support. But I also saw hope. Haiti’s children still have hope for a brighter future—they are going to school whenever they can, and they refuse to give up on their lives, on their country.”
A Call to Action
Chaiban’s visit has served as a stark reminder of the importance of investing in Haiti’s children and ensuring their access to essential services, including education, healthcare, and protection. “Now is not the time to give up on Haiti,” Chaiban concluded. “Now, at a time of transition, is the time to invest in Haiti’s children, in their future, to prevent a generation from being lost to violence.”
The call for sustained support and action is crucial if Haiti is to overcome the current crisis and build a future for its children free from violence and despair.
