UNICEF: children now make up half of Haiti’s armed groups

The United States and Panama have put forward a new draft resolution at the United Nations Security Council, seeking to tackle the growing threat of armed gangs in Haiti and to establish a more sustainable UN-backed security mechanism.

Acting US Ambassador to the UN, Dorothy Shea, said the proposal includes the creation of a “gang suppression force” as well as a UN support office to provide logistical and operational assistance.

“The mission must be properly resourced to hold territory, protect infrastructure and work in close coordination with the Haitian National Police,” she told the Council.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged members to act without delay, stressing the importance of predictable financing and tougher enforcement of the arms embargo. According to UN estimates, most of the weapons in the hands of Haitian gangs are trafficked from Florida.

The UN's International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Executive Director Catherine Russell warned that children are bearing the brunt of the crisis. She reported a 700% rise in the recruitment and use of children by armed groups in the first quarter of 2025 compared with the same period last year.

“Children now make up around half of the members of these armed groups. Many are being forced into combat roles, while others are exploited as couriers, lookouts, porters or for domestic labour,” she said.

Haiti’s Deputy Ambassador to the UN, Fritzner Gaspard, told the Security Council that the humanitarian situation is worsening at an alarming pace. He pointed out that only half of the country’s health facilities remain functional, malnutrition is on the rise, and sexual violence is increasingly being used as a weapon against women and children. He stressed that resolving the humanitarian crisis is impossible without tackling the severe security crisis.

Representatives of Panama and the Dominican Republic echoed these concerns, highlighting that 5.7 million Haitians are suffering from acute food insecurity. They underlined that without security, no programme on nutrition, health or education can succeed.

The UN-backed multinational force currently has fewer than 1,000 troops — less than half the intended number.

With the crisis deepening, Haiti’s government has also sought support from the private security firm Vectus, owned by Erik Prince, which began operating in March and is deploying drones as part of its operations.

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