International News: United Nations warn Haiti is one of the worst places to be a child amid crisis

Posted: Friday, December 6, 2024. 3:53 pm CST.

By Zoila Palma Gonzalez: Haiti’s children are facing dire conditions, with hunger, malnutrition, and a lack of basic necessities.

Over 365,000 children are among the 700,000 displaced Haitians, living in overcrowded camps without access to clean water or sanitation.

Additionally, 1.5 million children have lost access to education due to gang violence and extreme poverty.

Many children are joining gangs, with recruitment increasing by 70% in the past year. These gangs now account for up to half of their membership.

The number of reported sexual violence cases against children has risen by 1,000% in 2024 alone. “Haiti is one of the worst places on the planet to be a child,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

The UN has called for urgent action, highlighting the need to protect children from violence and exploitation as Haiti struggles with gang control, political instability, and natural disasters.

The UN’s Economic and Social Council convened to discuss the country’s growing crisis, with representatives calling for more funding to protect children and address the humanitarian needs of the population.

Meanwhile, the World Food Program is scaling up food distribution to meet the increasing needs of displaced Haitians. However, the country’s $674 million humanitarian response plan remains underfunded, leaving crucial areas like child protection, education, and nutrition lacking resources.

Haiti’s youth, who make up nearly half the population, are bearing the brunt of the ongoing gang violence, which has seen schools turned into battlegrounds and hospitals shuttered. At least 238 children have been killed or injured in gang violence this year, and 38 have been kidnapped.

The UN’s humanitarian coordinator, Ulrika Richardson, emphasized the importance of continued humanitarian operations. “We need more funding to prevent the situation from worsening,” she said. The crisis is not only a humanitarian emergency but an existential threat to the future of Haiti’s children.

Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Belize ~ We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages. Your content is delivered instantly to thousands of users in Belize and abroad! Contact us at mаrkеtіng@brеаkіngbеlіzеnеwѕ.соm or call us at 501-612-0315.

© 2024, BreakingBelizeNews.com. Content is copyrighted and requires written permission for reprinting in online or print media. Theft of content without permission/payment is punishable by law.