UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations says the overall appeal for Haiti this year “is severely underfunded” noting that the recent wave of armed violence in the Centre Department is putting thousands of children at risk.
“Even before the recent escalation of violence in Haiti, the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan had identified more than US$44 million in funding that is needed for child protection efforts alone,” said Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres.
“Yet the overall appeal for Haiti this year is severely underfunded, with less thanUS$68 million received of the more than US$908 million required, that’s just over seven per cent to date,” he added.
Haq said that the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that the recent wave of armed violence in the Centre Department is putting thousands of children at risk and that since mid-April, more than 50,000 people have been displaced, including an estimated 15,000 children.
He said most displaced families have taken shelter in rural areas or in temporary sites with little access to essential services.
“In response, the UN and our humanitarian partners are providing psychosocial support and child protection services in the most affected areas. So far, more than 1,400 children have benefited from individual counseling and recreational activities in safe environments,” Haq told reporters.
He said field teams are also identifying and referring children who have been separated from their families, subjected to gender-based violence, or exposed to other protection risks, including forced recruitment by armed groups. At least 150 such cases have been referred to specialized services for care and support.
OCHA said it continues to lead coordination efforts and support partners to deliver life-saving protection services for the most vulnerable children. However, additional funding is urgently needed to meet rising needs, especially with the hurricane season approaching and displacement continuing to increase.
