UNICEF has received reports that at least two children were shot and killed while fleeing violence in areas controlled by armed groups in downtown Port-au-Prince over the past weekend. Several other children were reportedly injured. UNICEF, with its UN partners, is documenting and verifying the information received.

"Conditions on the ground remain extremely dangerous for children. Children’s playgrounds, schools, and homes have become war zones in many parts of the city. I personally witnessed an eight-year-old child being injured by a bullet a few days ago while playing," declared Bruno Maes, UNICEF representative in Haiti adding "Regrettably, such attacks are not isolated [...] According to the latest data from our partners, at least 167 boys and girls were killed or injured by bullets in 2023 "Some neighborhoods have turned into a living hell for children. Violence has escalated rapidly since the beginning of the year. Killing children is a grave violation of human rights. Once again, hospitals have been forced to evacuate their patients, including newborns, due to fear of attacks by armed groups."

Sexual violence against children is also intensifying, particularly in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince and in the Artibonite department. According to data collected from Child Protection and Gender-Based Violence stakeholders, 2,701 cases of sexual violence were reported between January and November 2023, 1,895 of which involved children.

"Despite the scale and severity of the crisis, the lack of attention to Haiti poses a daunting challenge. The cost of indifference and inaction is unconscionable. The future of Haiti’s children is at stake," Maes concluded.

HL/ HaitiLibre