Haitian gang violence has displaced more than 300,000 children, UNICEF says

• The United Nations Children’s Fund says gang violence in Haiti has forced more than 300,000 children to flee since March.
• The surge in violence, including murders and kidnappings, began with a series of coordinated attacks on key government infrastructure in February and ultimately led to the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry in April.
• The announcement came days after hundreds of Kenyans arrived in Haiti to help rescue the country from the harsh grip of armed gangs.

Gang violence in Haiti has forced more than 300,000 children to flee since March, the United Nations children’s fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday, as the Caribbean nation struggles to curb killings and kidnappings.

Of the roughly 580,000 people who have become homeless in the past four months, more than half are children. The surge in violence began in late February after a series of coordinated attacks on key government infrastructure led to the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry in April.

“The humanitarian catastrophe unfolding before our eyes is taking a devastating toll on children,” UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a statement. “Displaced children desperately need a safe and protected environment and increased support and funding from the international community.”

The federal government will stop the flood of illegal Haitian immigrants arriving by boat in this red state.

At least 80 percent of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and major roads into the capital are now controlled by gangs, and more than 2,500 people have been killed or injured across the country in the first three months of this year, according to the United Nations.

Many children are living in schools and other makeshift accommodation with poor sanitary conditions, putting them at risk of disease. School closures have also led to higher dropout rates.

The agency said children in Haiti are being forced to join gangs to survive due to a lack of access to food, health care, clean water and sanitation. Displaced children and teens in Haiti also face increased risks of sexual assault, exploitation, abuse and family separation, according to UNICEF.

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The announcement came days after hundreds of Kenyans arrived in Haiti to help rescue the country from the harsh grip of armed gangs. The deployment drew mixed reactions after a UN peacekeeping mission there a few years ago brought cholera and sexual allegations.

On Monday, U.S. Vice President for National Security Jonathan Finer met with Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille to discuss the initial deployment of the UN Assistance Mission to Haiti. Finer reiterated U.S. strong support for accountability and oversight mechanisms as part of the mission.

Haiti is also bracing for a powerful hurricane season that started earlier than normal, with tropical storm warnings issued for Haiti’s southern coast as Hurricane Beryl moved into the Caribbean.