Ankara: UNICEF Regional Director Roberto Benes has called on the international community to urgently restore safe and secure humanitarian access to Haiti, highlighting the escalating crisis facing children due to rampant gang violence and the collapse of essential services. Speaking at a UN briefing in New York via video link, Benes emphasized the dire situation, stating, "We cannot allow Haiti's children to remain invisible or forgotten. Our message is clear: restore safe and secure humanitarian access."

According to Anadolu Agency, Benes provided alarming statistics that underscore the severity of the crisis. Approximately 3.3 million children are in need of humanitarian assistance, meaning that three out of every four Haitian children rely on aid. The violence has displaced over 680,000 children, with many being uprooted multiple times as gangs extend their control over the capital, Port-au-Prince.

"The future of an entire generation is at stake," Benes warned. Last week, UNICEF issued a child alert for Haiti, which serves as an evidence-based call to action, highlighting what Benes described as "one of the world's most urgent and overall crisis for children."

Armed groups now control about 80% of Port-au-Prince, severely limiting access to vital services. Benes reported that more than 1,600 schools have been attacked, occupied, or made inaccessible, leaving roughly 25% of children out of school. Disturbingly, about half of the members of these armed groups are children, some as young as 10, with recruitment rates having surged by 70% over the past year.

The crisis extends to food security, with over 1.2 million children under the age of five living in areas suffering from acute food insecurity, raising the risk of severe malnutrition. Families, in their desperation, are turning to contaminated water sources, which has led to outbreaks of cholera and diarrhea.

In 2024, UNICEF documented 2,269 cases of severe human rights violations against children, marking a nearly fivefold increase from 2023. The violations include killings, maimings, forced recruitment, kidnappings, and sexual violence. Children as young as 10 have been observed carrying weapons for armed groups, and girls face increased risks of sexual violence.