The United Nations has highlighted a disturbing trend in Haiti, where children now constitute approximately 50 percent of gang members, driven by ongoing violence, political instability, and economic collapse.
The Caribbean nation is grappling with a severe humanitarian crisis, with gangs controlling up to 90 percent of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
This surge in child recruitment coincides with a 700 percent increase in children joining armed groups in early 2025 compared to the previous year, exacerbating the already dire situation for Haiti’s youth.
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported over 2,000 grave violations against children in 2024, a 500 percent rise from the prior year, including summary executions and increased killing and maiming.
Gangs are forcing children into combat roles, using them as couriers, lookouts, or for domestic labor.
The collapse of basic services has left 1.3 million Haitians, half of them children, displaced, with 243,000 children unable to attend school due to attacks on educational facilities.
The UN chief described Haiti as a “perfect storm of suffering,” with six million people requiring humanitarian aid.
Efforts to curb the violence face significant hurdles.
A Kenya-led UN-backed security mission, authorized in October 2023, has struggled with inadequate funding and resources, limiting its impact.
The United States and Panama have proposed a new security force to confront the gangs, though its integration with existing efforts remains unclear.
Haiti’s humanitarian response plan is critically underfunded, receiving less than 10 percent of the $908 million needed, leaving 1.7 million people at risk of receiving no aid.
The UN chief has urged for immediate international action to support Haiti’s fragile progress and prevent further deterioration.