Spiralling violence and gang control in Haiti have forced 680,000 children from their homes — nearly double the figure recorded a year ago — as the country’s humanitarian crisis worsens, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Wednesday.
The agency estimates that more than six million Haitians — over half of the country’s population, including 3.3 million children — now require urgent humanitarian assistance as public services crumble under the weight of escalating violence.
“Children in Haiti are experiencing violence and displacement at a terrifying scale,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Each time they are forced to flee, they lose not only their homes but also their chance to go to school, and simply to be children.”
According to UNICEF, more than 1 million children face critical levels of food insecurity, while approximately 288,500 children under the age of five are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition in 2025. The agency also reports that 2.7 million people now live in areas controlled by armed groups, with overall internal displacement rising to 246,000 so far this year.
In total, more than 1.3 million people have been uprooted from their homes — the vast majority of them women and children.
Haiti’s worsening security crisis has been driven by armed gangs expanding their control over major towns and transport routes, effectively paralysing local police forces. Public institutions — including schools, hospitals, and water systems — have all but collapsed, leaving millions of civilians stranded without basic services.
The growing instability has also forced humanitarian agencies to scale back their operations due to safety risks. Last month, the UN Security Council approved a US-backed plan to bolster an international mission supporting Haitian authorities, but the force — launched over 15 months ago — still lacks sufficient funding, personnel and equipment.
UNICEF is calling for immediate international funding to expand life-saving assistance, including access to shelter, healthcare, education and clean water. However, the agency warned that its appeal remains severely underfunded, threatening the continuation of critical support programs for millions of vulnerable children.
As armed groups tighten their grip and Haiti teeters on the brink of total collapse, UNICEF’s latest figures serve as a grim reminder of a generation of children growing up in fear, hunger and displacement — with no clear path to safety.
Melissa Enoch
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