UNITED NATIONS, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported on Tuesday that ongoing violence and instability in Haiti have displaced over 300,000 children, averaging one child every minute since March.
Catherine Russell, UNICEF executive director, underscored the grave impact of the violence, saying, "The humanitarian catastrophe unfolding before our eyes is taking a devastating toll on children. Displaced children are in desperate need of a safe and protective environment, and increased support and funding from the international community."
Approximately 3 million children across Haiti require humanitarian assistance, exacerbated by years of political turmoil, widespread poverty, rampant disease, and multiple disasters, according to UNICEF.
Displaced children face increased risks of violence, including sexual assault, exploitation, abuse, and family separation. Access to essential services such as safe spaces, healthcare, clean water, and sanitation is severely disrupted. Poor hygiene in camps and settlements heightens susceptibility to diseases like cholera, while school closures and economic constraints force many children to abandon their education.
With limited means of survival or protection, children are increasingly forced to join armed groups, violating their rights and breaching international law, UNICEF stressed.
Compounding these issues are additional hazards. Haiti's National Emergency Operations Center warned of a "hyperactive" cyclone season, further endangering the displaced population. A tornado in Bassin Bleu, Northwest Department, recently destroyed the homes of 650 children.
UNICEF warned that the already strained healthcare system, barely coping with the current demand, faces further challenges from an ongoing rainy season, threatening to spike water-borne diseases.
"The needs in Haiti continue to grow, alongside the dangers for children," said Russell.
She emphasized that everyone has a role in changing the trajectory to ensure children are protected, have access to education, and can access basic services, adding: "Children should not be paying with their lives and their futures for a crisis created by adults." ■
