Haiti's Capital Cut Off by Gang Blockades, Leaving 58,000 Malnourished Children Without Aid

The humanitarian crisis in Haiti has reached catastrophic levels, with the capital city of Port-au-Prince cut off by gang blockades, preventing critical aid from reaching 58,000 malnourished children, according to UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. The situation is deteriorating daily, with three million Haitian children in dire need of assistance amidst escalating gang violence.

Armed gangs now control 90% of Haiti, making it impossible for health and nutrition supplies to reach children suffering from severe wasting, a life-threatening form of malnutrition. Satellite images show that the gangs have barricaded the main port, leaving 300 containers of humanitarian supplies stranded. The government has also lost control of the international airport to the gangs.

Why this matters: The collapse of essential services and the escalation of gang violence in Haiti have left millions of children vulnerable and in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. The inability to deliver aid to malnourished children threatens to further worsen the already dire situation in the country.

Port-au-Prince has become a battleground for violent gangs, forcing residents to take extreme measures to protect themselves, such as installing metal barricades and avoiding certain areas. The violence has disrupted daily life, with businesses, government agencies, and schools forced to close, leaving many Haitians unemployed. More than 95,000 people, including over 19,300 children, have fled the capital in just one month, facing the risk of gang rape and killings as they pass through gang-controlled areas.

The crisis has deepened poverty across Haiti, with even students forced to join the workforce to support their families. The government remains largely absent, and residents describe the situation as 'hell'. UNICEF estimates that half of the armed groups include children recruited or forced into their ranks.

Supplies at Haiti's few remaining hospitals are dwindling, with lifesaving medications now almost entirely unavailable to cancer and AIDS patients, and even inhalers for asthma sufferers have run out. Humanitarian organizations are building out logistical infrastructure in Cap-Haitien, but there is currently no safe route to deliver food and medicine to those taking cover amid the anarchy and gang brutality.

Catherine Russell, UNICEF's Executive Director, warned that the insecurity in Port-au-Prince has made it impossible for health and nutrition supplies to reach at least 58,000 children suffering from severe wasting. "The situation in Haiti is catastrophic and growing worse by the day," Russell stated, emphasizing the urgent need for action to address the humanitarian crisis and provide assistance to the vulnerable children affected by the violence and instability in the country.

Key Takeaways

• Haiti's humanitarian crisis has reached catastrophic levels, with 3M children in dire need.
• Armed gangs control 90% of Haiti, blocking aid from reaching 58,000 malnourished children.
• Over 95,000 people, including 19,300 children, have fled the capital due to gang violence.
• Hospitals lack essential medicines, and the government has lost control of the airport and port.
• UNICEF warns the situation is catastrophic and growing worse, calling for urgent humanitarian aid.