Two girls under the age of 10 were killed along with two adults when an armed group carried out a deadly attack on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince in the Croix-des-Bouquets district on Monday. In addition, four members of the same family were kidnapped.
Conditions for Haitian children are becoming increasingly dangerous. A similar attack occurred last week.
There were 88 serious crimes against children between July and September, 37 of which resulted in death or injury.
Bruno Maes, head of UNICEF in Haiti, said the UN children's agency was “deeply shocked and outraged” by the recent attacks left in its wake “A trail of unimaginable pain and despair.”
“We extend our deepest condolences to the victims, families and communities affected by these barbaric attacks,” Maes added.
UNICEF has warned of the unprecedented escalation of violence in Haiti and its deadly impact on children. In gang-controlled areas, places where children can receive protection and support – such as schools, health centers and protective services – are increasingly under attack, leading to child deaths, Maes said.
“Serious crimes, including intentional homicide and kidnapping, are increasing at an unprecedented rate, particularly in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area and the Artibonite department,” he said. The state police recorded the astonishing number 1,239 homicides between July and September, compared to 577 in the same period last year. The number of kidnappings has risen to 701 victims, a scandalous increase of 244%.
Repeated attacks and access restrictions for humanitarian workers are hindering UNICEF's ability to reach those most in need, Maes said.
“UNICEF and other organizations have repeatedly called for the protection of the civilian populationespecially children and women, and respect for international humanitarian law. Killing children is a serious violation of human rightsHe added: “UNICEF urges all parties to end attacks on children and their families and protect them from danger.”
The country is awaiting a support mission
The gangs control 80% of the capitalPort-au-Prince, and the violence has spread to the neighboring department of Artibonite, Haiti's breadbasket.
In total, There are about 300 armed gangs in the country and in 2023 there will already be 8,000 murders, Lynchings, kidnappings and cases of brutal rape, said Ulrika Richardson, UN resident and humanitarian coordinator, on December 8.
In October, the UN Security Council agreed to send a multinational security assistance mission led by Kenya, but legal obstacles in the country have so far prevented the deployment of a thousand Kenyan police officers to support the Haitian national police.
Kenya's Supreme Court in Nairobi has scheduled a hearing for January 26 to decide the matter.
Three million children need help
More than 2.9 million children in Haiti, Every second person depends on humanitarian aid to survive. The country is facing a series of crises: political instability, a dramatic increase in armed violence, a resurgence of cholera and exorbitant inflation. Basic services are on the verge of collapse and there are unprecedented levels of hunger, malnutrition and gender-based violence.
In the greater Port-au-Prince area alone there are at least 140,000 internally displaced people, who live in spontaneous settlements and host communities. Among them are many unaccompanied children who are exposed to abuse, exploitation and violence.
As of September 2023, more than 64,400 suspected cases of cholera, almost half of them in children under 14 years of age. And poor sanitation conditions and limited access to clean water pave the way for water-borne diseases.
The agency emphasizes that the activities of armed groups in schools and surrounding areas prevent children from attending classes, increasing the risk of being recruited or becoming victims of violence and sexual abuse.. More than 1.2 million children will need support to access education in 2024.
In addition, approximately 100,000 children under the age of five require treatment for severe wasting.
Flexible financing
UNICEF demands by 2024 $221.7 million to meet the needs of 2.1 million people in Haiti, including 1.1 million children. The humanitarian situation will not improve next year. On the contrary, a potential increase in risks is expected, which could increase humanitarian needs across the country.
In this increasingly volatile environment With more children in need than ever before and resources immensely limited, The agency says so-called flexible funds are crucial. Flexible and unallocated funding is emergency funding where donors entrust UNICEF to use their funds when and where they are needed, in a timely and effective manner.
In Haiti, flexible funding was essential to respond to the resurgence of cholera since October 2022.