UNICEF: Gang Violence in Haiti Endangers Education for 100,000 Displaced Children

UNICEF: Gang Violence in Haiti Endangers Education for 100,000 Displaced Children

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has sounded the alarm on the devastating impact of ongoing gang violence in Haiti, which is threatening the education of over 100,000 displaced children in the country’s southern region. In a statement issued on Wednesday, UNICEF emphasized the urgent need for support as communities and social services buckle under the strain.

Bruno Maes, UNICEF’s Representative in Haiti, revealed that more than 270,000 people have fled to the southern part of the country due to increased gang activity, particularly in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and surrounding areas. As the new school year approaches, displaced families are struggling to find school placements for their children amidst the chaos.

“Local services are overwhelmed by the influx of displaced children, and the ongoing violence has created significant disruptions,” Maes said, while visiting impacted families. “Every child deserves a safe education to build a brighter future for Haiti.”

The arrival of 103,000 displaced school-aged children in the Grand South region has severely strained educational resources, UNICEF reported. Furthermore, 919 schools in the West and Artibonite regions have closed due to violence, affecting approximately 156,000 students. As a result, many children have missed substantial parts of their academic year.

UNICEF, in collaboration with the Haitian government, is working to rehabilitate damaged schools, establish temporary learning spaces, and provide essential educational materials. They are also strengthening the capacity of teachers and offering cash transfers to help families cover school-related expenses.

However, the agency urgently requires $87 million to sustain its educational interventions, having raised only $5.4 million as of August. Maes urged the international community to step in and provide the necessary financial support to ensure that displaced children can return to school.

In addition, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) highlighted the need for $48 million to provide emergency agricultural assistance to over 600,000 Haitians. The violence and displacement have disrupted agricultural production, pushing half the population—around five million people—into acute hunger. FAO called for swift global action to prevent further suffering in Haiti.