21,000 Haitian Children Displaced in Two Weeks of Relentless Gang Violence
Since November 11, escalating violence and insecurity in Haiti's capital have forced 41,000 people to flee their homes, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported. Rights group Save the Children estimates that over 21,000 of the displaced—approximately 52%—are children, many of whom have endured multiple displacements in the past two years.
This marks the largest wave of displacement since January 2023, according to the IOM. Many of the displaced, particularly children, have sought refuge in overcrowded schools repurposed as shelters or with host families, often without access to clean water, food, or healthcare.
Save the Children has urged for unrestricted access for aid workers and supplies, especially in Port-au-Prince, to combat rising hunger and severe malnutrition. The group also called on all parties to prioritize the safety of children amidst the ongoing crisis.
The surge in displacement coincides with a sharp increase in gang activity. The UN reports a 70% rise in the number of children recruited by gangs over the past year. While some are forcibly recruited, others join as a survival strategy amid the deteriorating security situation.
The violence intensified following the dismissal of Haiti’s interim prime minister amid allegations of corruption within a transitional council meant to restore democratic governance. Gangs now control 85% of Port-au-Prince, according to UN estimates. A Kenya-led international police mission deployed to address the crisis has so far failed to shift the power dynamics on the ground.
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