U.S COMMITTEE FOR REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS
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Policy Brief: “The Abyss of Despair” – A Need to Act for Haiti and Its Children

November 7, 2023

Often far removed from the headlines is a humanitarian crisis worsening by the day: the situation in Haiti. In recent months, a resurgence of armed violence has plagued daily life in Haiti with brutality and insecurity, particularly in the capital of Port-au-Prince and neighboring areas. It is estimated that over 200 gangs currently operate throughout the country, and the largest groups control up to 80 percent of Port-au-Prince. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) found that between January 1 and September 30, 2023, 5,599 cases of armed-group-related violence were recorded, including 3,156 killings, 1,159 injuries, and 1,284 kidnappings, noting a sharp increase from the amount reported for the same period in 2022.

As Haiti and the international community grapple with a worsening nightmare, no one’s survival and safety are more in jeopardy than that of Haiti’s children. Violence, insecurity, hunger, and malnutrition paired with a resurgence of cholera and disastrous climate impacts are pushing Haiti’s children to the breaking point. Urgent and collective action must be taken to support and protect children in Haiti.

Click here to read the full Policy & Advocacy Report by USCRI.

For questions, please email [email protected].


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