15,000 Haitian Children Suffer Severe Malnutrition as Gang Violence Blocks Aid

Haiti is facing a severe humanitarian crisis as gang violence has blocked critical infrastructure and the delivery of life-saving supplies to the capital, Port-au-Prince. Around 15,000 Haitian children are suffering from severe malnutrition due to the ongoing gang violence, which has left 300 containers of essential goods stranded at the capital's main port and the international airport under gang control.

The situation has created widespread shortages of food, water, medicine, and energy, coupled with pervasive terror in many neighborhoods. Hospitals and clinics in Port-au-Prince are running low on essential medicines and equipment, leaving them struggling to treat patients. At a Doctors Without Borders hospital in the Cite Soleil slum, a woman recently experienced a medical emergency, but the hospital was running low on the medication needed to treat her.

Why this matters: The humanitarian crisis in Haiti highlights the devastating impact of gang violence on vulnerable populations, particularly children. The international community must urgently address the situation to prevent further loss of life and restore access to essential supplies and services.

The gangs have barricaded the main port in the capital, leaving 300 containers of humanitarian supplies stranded, and they have also taken control of the city's international airport. UNICEF estimates that half of these armed groups include children who have been recruited or forced into their ranks. The UN Security Council is sounding the alarm, but there is no clear plan yet to restore order and allow for the delivery of essential supplies.

Humanitarian organizations are trying to build up logistics in a secondary city, but the situation remains dire, with medical care descending to "medieval levels" and lifesaving medications becoming almost entirely unavailable. The UN estimates that 1.4 million people in Haiti were a step away from famine, and that number has grown as the elderly and children are literally dying of starvation. Over 4.4 million people in Haiti do not know where their next meal will come from.

The Biden administration has sent reinforcements to the Haiti National Police, including a U.S. military aircraft that landed in Port-au-Prince. This comes as armed gangs continue to launch attacks on parts of the capital, targeting key government infrastructure and attempting to take control of the international airport and the National Palace. The ongoing attacks have led to the deaths or injuries of over 2,500 Haitians since the beginning of the year, worsening the dire humanitarian crisis.

The United Nations has allocated $12 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to enable an effective and rapid response to the crisis. The CERF allocation will be used for a multi-sectoral response, including providing food security, water, sanitation, and health services, as well as treating acute malnutrition in children and supporting hospitals. "The humanitarian situation in Haiti has sadly reached new levels of desperation, and the population is in urgent need of our support," said UN Humanitarian Chief Martin Griffiths.

Key Takeaways

• Haiti faces severe humanitarian crisis due to gang violence blocking aid delivery
• 15,000 Haitian children suffer severe malnutrition, hospitals lack essential supplies
• Gangs control port and airport, leaving 300 containers of aid stranded
• UN estimates 1.4 million Haitians near famine, with 4.4 million lacking food
• UN allocates $12 million in emergency funds to address the crisis