Haiti Appeal

The complex and protracted humanitarian crisis in Haiti is driven by escalating armed violence, mass displacement, collapsing services, the resurgence of cholera, deepening food insecurity and widespread malnutrition, along with recurrent climate shocks. Armed groups control an estimated 90 per cent of metropolitan Port-au-Prince, while violence has spread northwards, cutting off trade and humanitarian routes. Hundreds of thousands of Haitians, including unaccompanied and separated children, are being returned from the Dominican Republic, often without documentation or support, and face risks of homelessness, hunger, violence, exploitation and de facto statelessness. 

An estimated 1.4 million people are internally displaced, including 741,000 children (53 per cent of those displaced), the highest figure ever recorded. Altogether, 5.7 million people face acute food insecurity, 1.2 million of them children under the age of 5. 

Access to essential services is collapsing. Only 41 per cent of health facilities with beds in Port-au-Prince remain fully functional. The education system is disrupted: 1,606 schools were closed during the 2024–2025 academic year, affecting 7,500 teachers and depriving 243,000 students of learning. Nearly 1.5 million children and teachers need education support. Many schools shelter displaced families. At the same time, 1.3 million people urgently need life-saving WASH services. 

The operational environment remains volatile and dangerous. Violence continues to escalate, with rising casualties, lethal drones and an increase in kidnappings targeting civilians. Security operations present an opportunity to support stabilization efforts, but must be conducted in a manner that prevents civilian harm, repeated displacement and disruption to services. Gender-based violence has surged. Between January and September 2025, more than 7,472 cases were reported, an average of 27 new cases per day. Nearly 56 per cent involved sexual violence. Of these, 65 per cent were collective rapes committed by armed groups. 

UNICEF estimates that 30–50 per cent of armed group members are children, with recruitment rising in 2025 as families lost income, shelter and basic services. The United Nations verified 2,269 grave violations against children in 2024, including killing and maiming, abduction, sexual violence and attacks on schools and hospitals. More than 300 cases involved the recruitment and use of children by armed groups. Although releases continue with support from child protection partners, reintegration remains hindered by insecurity, displacement and weakened state institutions. 

Meanwhile, climate shocks erode resilience. Above-average hurricane activity and flooding in 2025 destroyed infrastructure, displaced families and fuelled disease outbreaks. Combined with violence and repeated displacement, these hazards push families beyond coping capacity and drive children into dangerous survival mechanisms.

The UNICEF response in Haiti will prioritize life-saving assistance in 2026, in line with Humanitarian Reset principles, linking emergency response with recovery efforts and partnering with local actors. UNICEF will deliver integrated multisectoral assistance, strengthen access to basic services, enhance protection and reinforce systems for preparedness and resilience. 

Local engagement will enhance humanitarian access. UNICEF will support local services by training and equipping front-line workers and reinforcing institutions to sustain service provision. 

Child protection teams will provide case management, safe referrals and family reintegration, while integrating mental health and psychosocial support across sectors. UNICEF will reinforce gender-based violence risk mitigation, prevention and survivor assistance, including links to health and psychosocial services. 

Joint child protection programming with education and social protection activities will target children associated with armed groups as well as vulnerable youth. Health and nutrition interventions will be delivered through mobile clinics, outreach teams and rapid response mechanisms. The priority will be maternaland child health care, immunization, disease surveillance and treatment of acute malnutrition. Community health workers will receive essential supplies and UNICEF will also help strengthen cold-chain systems.

Critical WASH interventions will ensure access to safe water through trucking, household treatment and climate-resilient solutions including rehabilitating networks, installing chlorination points and supporting community-managed systems. Cholera prevention will continue through the case-area targeted intervention approach, WASH ‘shield’ strategies and community engagement to contain transmission and prevent outbreaks. These interventions will align with health interventions, including clinical case management and support for health facilities. 

Education programming will promote learning continuity and well-being through safe spaces, teacher training, catch-up and accelerated learning, psychosocial support and non-formal opportunities for out-of-school children, adolescent girls and children with disabilities. UNICEF will support families through cash transfers. Rehabilitation of damaged schools and investment in the education management information system will strengthen governance.

Humanitarian cash transfers will increase, aligned with national social protection systems. UNICEF will support identification of vulnerable households through government databases and help strengthen institutional capacities to promote sustainability. Gender equality, disability inclusion and protection from sexual exploitation and abuse will be mainstreamed in UNICEF programmes. UNICEF will embed safeguarding principles in risk assessments, programme design and implementation and monitoring. U-Report and youth clubs in priority communes will promote and reinforce youth engagement. 

UNICEF will work with authorities and partners to ensure protection and services for children affected by cross-border displacement. Multi-risk preparedness and anticipatory action remain priorities. As lead or co-lead agency for the education and nutrition clusters and the WASH sector, UNICEF will ensure coordination and provide leadership and accountability, acting as provider of last resort to fill critical gaps, and ensure continuity of child protection priorities within the consolidated Protection Cluster framework.