UNESCO session warns of worsening crisis for Haiti’s children amid violence and hunger

Haiti’s worsening crisis is devastating its youngest citizens, international leaders warned during a UNESCO session on Monday. With half the population—5.4 million people—facing acute food insecurity and 700,000 displaced, children are particularly vulnerable. Speakers called for urgent intervention to address escalating gang violence, widespread hunger, and a collapsing education system.

Children caught in the crossfire

In the special session, UNESCO shared how children account for 30% to 54% of gang recruits in Haiti, and recruitment rates have surged by 70% this year, according to UNICEF. Many, like Bendji and Moïse, two 10-year-old boys from Canaan who had a video of themselves make the rounds on the internet, are lured or coerced into armed groups due to hunger and desperation. These children perform dangerous tasks like scouting for rival gangs, often for meager pay.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell highlighted that over 1.5 million Haitian children are out of school, and many face malnutrition due to food shortages. “This generation risks being lost to violence and neglect,” Russell said.

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Violence disrupting aid and infrastructure

Armed groups have worsened the humanitarian situation by blocking key roads and attacking relief efforts. A nationwide state of emergency declared in September has failed to curb the violence. International relief organizations like the World Food Programme (WFP) have ramped up aid, delivering record amounts of food to nearly two million people. However, WFP Country Director Wanja Kaaria acknowledged that “the scale of need far outpaces available resources.”

A call for global solidarity

During the session, UN Special Representative Maria Isabel Salvador stressed the importance of addressing root causes like insecurity and poverty. Efforts like the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, which aims to bolster Haiti’s police force, must prioritize child protection, Salvador said.

Experts also emphasized the role of education and sustainable development in preventing child exploitation. As highlighted in The Haitian Times’ coverage of gang recruitment, hunger and lack of opportunity force many Haitian children into a cycle of violence. Community-based solutions like youth mentorship programs and increased funding for schools are essential, leaders agreed.

The session concluded with urgent calls for increased international funding and coordination to protect children and rebuild Haiti’s infrastructure. Without swift action, a generation of Haitian children risks being lost to violence, exploitation, and despair.

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