The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised alarm over a sharp increase in the recruitment of children by armed groups in Haiti, reporting a staggering 70% rise within the past year. Children now make up almost half of gang membership in the violence-stricken Caribbean nation, according to a statement released on Sunday.
Haiti, grappling with decades of political instability, has experienced a surge in gang violence, with armed groups now controlling approximately 80% of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
A Worsening Crisis for Children
“The unprecedented spike, registered between the second quarters of 2023 and 2024, points to a worsening protection crisis for children in the violence-plagued Caribbean Island,” UNICEF said.
The statement revealed that up to half of all gang members in Haiti are children, underscoring the extent to which young lives are being consumed by the ongoing violence.
Underlying Causes
UNICEF attributed the rise in child recruitment to the escalating violence, widespread poverty, lack of access to education, and the near-collapse of critical infrastructure across Haiti.
“Children in Haiti are trapped in a vicious cycle — recruited into the very armed groups that are fueling their desperation, and the numbers are growing,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
Call for Action
Russell called the trend “unacceptable” and urged immediate action to prioritize children’s safety and welfare.
“This unacceptable trend must be reversed by ensuring children’s safety and welfare are prioritized by all parties,” she said, emphasizing the urgent need for interventions to protect the rights and futures of Haiti’s youth.
The crisis highlights the ongoing challenges Haiti faces as it battles endemic violence and social collapse, leaving its most vulnerable citizens—its children—at the mercy of armed groups.
