Relentless crisis in Haiti: One in eight children internally displaced
January 17, 2025
Port-au-Prince, Haiti – The ongoing crisis in Haiti has forced one in eight children to flee their homes and become internally displaced, according to a new report released by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The report, titled “Hidden in Plain Sight: The Plight of Internally Displaced Children in Haiti,” paints a grim picture of the situation facing children in the country.
“The scale of the displacement crisis in Haiti is staggering,” said Jean Gough, UNICEF’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean. “One in eight children is internally displaced, meaning they have been forced to leave their homes due to violence, natural disasters, or other crises.”
The report found that the majority of internally displaced children in Haiti are living in informal settlements, which often lack basic services such as clean water, sanitation, and healthcare. These children are also at increased risk of violence, exploitation, and abuse.
“Children who are internally displaced face a multitude of challenges,” said Gough. “They are more likely to be out of school, to be malnourished, and to be victims of violence.”
The report calls on the Haitian government and the international community to take urgent action to address the needs of internally displaced children.
“We need to provide these children with safe shelter, clean water, food, healthcare, and education,” said Gough. “We also need to work to address the root causes of displacement, such as violence and poverty.”
The crisis in Haiti has been ongoing for years, and the situation for children has only worsened in recent months. In 2021, the country was hit by a devastating earthquake that killed more than 2,000 people and destroyed thousands of homes.
The earthquake was followed by a period of political instability and violence, which forced many families to flee their homes.
“The earthquake and the political crisis have only exacerbated the displacement crisis in Haiti,” said Gough. “We need to act now to help these children.”
The UNICEF report is based on a survey of more than 1,000 households in internally displaced communities in Haiti. The survey found that:
- One in eight children in Haiti is internally displaced.
- The majority of internally displaced children are living in informal settlements.
- Internally displaced children are more likely to be out of school, to be malnourished, and to be victims of violence.
- The earthquake and the political crisis have exacerbated the displacement crisis in Haiti.
The UNICEF report calls on the Haitian government and the international community to take urgent action to address the needs of internally displaced children.
Relentless crisis in Haiti: One in eight children internally displaced
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