Gangs have displaced nearly 1.45 million people nationwide, almost 85% of whom have fled their homes in Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti. The National Office facility in Port-au-Prince had to be closed because it was no longer safe, and our staff could not continue working there securely. The staff is working now in a safer place. Humanitarian needs have increased significantly. So many families are now living in the streets, having lost everything. This situation has affected all social classes in one way or another.
The situation of children in Haiti is therefore even more vulnerable than before. Raising a child in Haiti right now is extremely difficult. Because families are struggling to survive, children no longer benefit from the protection of a strong family unit.
Living in fear
About 755,000 children have been displaced by gang violence, many of whom have been forcibly separated from their parents and are now living in shelters. With 1,606 schools remaining closed, many of these children are unable to attend school. They also have limited access to healthcare. In Port-au-Prince alone, only 37 out of 100 health facilities are currently functional. Recent data also shows that approximately 294,000 children are at risk of malnutrition. They live in constant fear that gangs might return. Gangs are burning homes and destroying entire communities.
Heartbreakingly, young girls are being abused in displacement shelters. Of the 8,093 gender-based violence cases reported in late 2025, 1,295 involved girls.
An adapted and comprehensive response
When it comes to the work we do to support families and children in Haiti, in humanitarian or crisis situations, harsh conditions such as hunger and lack of shelter require an adapted and comprehensive response.
We work in very complex communities, so our approach is holistic. We teach safeguarding, but we also provide mental health support and training opportunities to improve economic mobility. We build capacity by supporting parents’ education, including sewing and cooking classes, enabling them to develop practical skills.
One challenge is that the humanitarian crisis often makes it difficult for people to sustain businesses or fully use the training we provide due to limited resources. To address this, we create parent-led credit associations so they can access loans to support their activities.
In rural areas, we also help communities grow crops on their land so they can produce and sell food.
The mental health impact is serious
All children have the right to play and enjoy their childhood. However, the current social context creates significant barriers to their development. They face numerous challenges. Violence has become part of their daily lives, and as they grow up, they carry this mindset into the world.
Children are increasingly being recruited by gangs, now making up as much as 50% of armed group members in the country. Seeing children carrying weapons almost as tall as themselves is deeply alarming. Growing up in unstable and fragile environments stunts their emotional development. Without adequate intervention, many may become involved in gangs themselves.
Some children have witnessed realities that are unbearable for their young minds. Many have seen family members, including parents, killed in front of them. No child should ever experience such atrocities.
This is why mental health must be a priority right now. For a child who has witnessed their parents being taken away or killed, hope rapidly fades. Many children living in shelters are also at increased risk of sexual abuse. Furthermore, many schools have been destroyed by gang violence, further limiting children’s access to education.
Therefore, civil society, government agencies, and organisations like ours must work together to support them.
Despite all of this, I still have hope. Because the future of Haiti lies in the hands of Haitians. No one else can change our country. The future of Haiti depends on listening to its children.