In Haiti, devastating violence and a glimmer of hope

PANAMA CITY, 8 August 2024 – “Last week I visited Haiti, where armed violence continues to devastate children’s lives. One child is displaced every minute in Haiti.

“The violence not only forces families from their homes but also puts children at risk of being killed, injured, or recruited by armed groups. Thousands of children are left without a safe space to learn as the new school year approaches. Schools have been closed, attacked or converted into temporary shelters.

“In Port-au-Prince, I visited a school that now serves as a shelter for more than 700 internally displaced people. I saw the fear and utter exhaustion in the eyes of a woman who I met there. She told me that she had to move with her four children several times due to the violence.

“At the school-turned-shelter I saw how UNICEF and partners provide her and her children safe access to services, including clean water and sanitation, healthcare, nutrition, education and psychosocial support.

“The children at the site are just some of the nearly three million in need of humanitarian assistance in Haiti. They urgently need our help, but they also urgently need peace.

“As the crisis continues, we need all hands on deck to restore trust and ensure security.

“In my meetings with the Government and with our partners, I emphasized the importance of prioritizing children's rights in every decision we make, including through investment in social services for children. I also reaffirmed UNICEF commitment to help make the Back-to-School campaign a success, starting the school year in October with all children learning at school.

"Despite the immense challenges, there remains a glimmer of hope. I witnessed the resilience of children who, despite everything, continue to play. I saw the unwavering determination of parents who strive to protect them and the dedication of service providers and public servants who, despite the odds, continue to deliver life-saving services.

"UNICEF urges for an end to the violence in Haiti. Peace is essential for children to thrive and build a bright future for all.”