UN, March 12 (IPS) – In 2025, the humanitarian crisis in Haiti became increasingly more tragic amongst the ongoing gang wars. With resettlement indicators, recruitment of children, uncertainty of food, physical violence and sexual violence, they increased rapidly over the past 12 months, the National Police had difficulty ganging control.
According to data from United Nations Organization (UN), by the end of 2024 no less than 5,600 Haitians were killed in consequence of gang violence. The UN also estimates that over 85 percent of the capital of the country, the port-au-prince, which incorporates about one third of Haiti’s population, is controlled by gangs. Entrances, exits and key roads in the city were threatened, which significantly reduced mobility and made civil security almost unattainable.
The increase in increased uncertainty at the end of January 2025 also led to a rise in civil resettlement. It is estimated that over 6,000 Haitians were displaced from Port-Au-Prince. In addition, over one million people have been displaced since January 2025, which suggests a 3 -time increase compared to the previous 12 months.
On February 24, the armed group attacked the Delmas 33 district in Port-Au-Prince, in which no less than 20 people were killed, although the real number of victims might be much higher. “What happened in Delmas 30 is a massacre. Gangs killed over twenty people and burned their bodies. Some victims are beyond recognition, “said brigade member of Vigilante Delmas 30 Neighborhood.
Targeted attacks on educational institutions have tightened the high level of recruitment of children who were already visible in Haiti. Geetanjali Narayan, a representative of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), informed reporters last month that gang coalitions destroyed 47 schools in Port-au-Prince, adding to 284 schools that were destroyed in 2024.
“Constant attacks on education accelerate, leaving hundreds of thousands of children without a place to study … intercepting movies shouting screams lying on the floor, immovable with fear, chilling sensitive reminder that these attacks cause injuries far beyond the walls of the class. A child outside of school is threatened a child, “said Narayan.
Narayan adds that about half of all members of the gang at Haiti are children. From eight to ten years they are sometimes used as informants, and young girls are used for homework. As the children are aged, they play a more lively role in the consolidation of violence.
According to Ulrika Richardson, a UN coordinator and humanitarian coordinator in the Haiti Republic, women and youngsters were disproportionately affected by human rights violations. From 2020, the gang members used sexual violence as a weapon of terror, which increased by 1000 percent from 2023 to 2024.
Amnesty International He issued a press release on February 12, which focused on the crazy level of sexual violence in Haiti. They stated that the abductions of young girls were common and girls are also utilized by members of the gang for business sex. Threats of repression and the lack of law enforcement agencies in areas controlled by a gang mean that victims can’t be applied for justice or protection services. Limited healthcare services also make it difficult for a lot of survivors to get well.
“These violent criminal groups continue to expand and consolidate their prevailing,” said William O’Neill, an UN expert in a human rights situation in Haiti. “They kill, bend, terrorize, set fire to houses, orphanages, schools, hospitals, places of worship, recruit children and infiltrate all the sphere of society. All this, with the highest impunity, and sometimes, as many sources notice, with the participation of powerful actors. “
Increased uncertainty was also significantly exacerbated by the universal hunger crisis. February 18 HelpThe humanitarian organization, which strives to maintain social, economic and environmental justice, published a press statement in which 200 families (about 1499 people) in Jérém and Roseaux were examined to analyze hunger trends. The study showed that nearly 90 percent of all Haitians go all day without food.
According to Integrated classification of food safety phases (IPC), about 5.5 million individuals are very uncertain food, which is about half of the population of the nation. From March to June, it is predicted that 2 million Haitians will face an emergency level of hunger.
Armed gangs still interfere with critical food distribution routes which have raised food prices, which makes it inaccessible to many. About 85 percent of the respondents reported that they fell on debt, and 17 percent indicated that they didn’t earn any income.
In addition, some households have been registered for survival of only USD 1 monthly. Girls have been reported that they exchange sex for food, and moms while pregnant or feeding were serious complications in consequence of malnutrition.
“What we are witnessing in Haiti is not a shortage of food-it is a full crisis of hunger powered by violence, inflation and system system”, Angeline Annesteus, Country Director of Actionaid at Haiti. “Markets still have food, but millions simply cannot afford it … The levels of hunger, suffering and death in Haiti are beyond anxiety, world powers dare or, what is worse – actively disturb humanitarian efforts. People die to death in the coming months, unless urgent financing is issued. In Haiti, there is no chance for peace and stability, while millions face hunger. ”
In 2024, the international community launched a fund price $ 600 million to help help Haiti, receiving only 40 percent of the required sum. Plan 2025 requires a further $ 300 million, which was attributed to increased violence and limited access to basic services.
In January this 12 months, the Trump administration ordered a 90 -day pause in the field of division of foreign aid. It is predicted that freezing American assets can have a major impact on aid, especially in such a tragic time for Haiti.
“We are still assessing the impact of these notifications about termination on our programs for children. But we already know that the initial break influenced programming for millions of children in about half of the countries where we work … but even the strongest cannot do it themselves … without urgent actions, without financing, more children will suffer malnutrition, less will have access to education, and diseases that can be prevented.
IPS report from the office
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 - In 2025, the humanitarian crisis in Haiti has grown increasingly dire amid the ongoing gang wars. With rates of displacement, child recruitment, food insecurity, physical violence, and sexual violence having skyrocketed in the past year alone, the national police have found it difficult to keep gang activity under control.){kind=link}