UNICEF's humanitarian action plan for Haiti focuses on meeting the basic needs of vulnerable children and families.
Those needs are great. Poverty is widespread, with nearly two-thirds of the population living on less than $2 a day. Some 40 percent of the population is food insecure, contributing to high rates of malnutrition among children and heightened health risks. Cholera is once again a major threat amid fuel shortages and a breakdown in essential services as gang violence and insecurity grips the greater Port-au-Prince area.
“When you are unable to get safe drinking water by tap in your own home, when you don’t have soap or water purifying tablets and you have no access to health services, you may not survive cholera or other waterborne diseases,” Bruno Maes, UNICEF Haiti Representative explains.
The country has long dealt with multiple social, political and economic crises, all of which were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Health care, including routine immunizations and primary health care services for pregnant women and children, has often been difficult to access.
Hurricanes, floods and earthquakes are a constant threat in Haiti, putting lives and livelihoods in jeopardy. A major earthquake hit southwestern Haiti on August 14, 2021, affecting an estimated 1.2 million people, including 540,000 children.
As the number of families migrating from Haiti rises, more children are at risk of becoming separated from their parents.
UNICEF works with partners in Haiti to make sure children are getting the nutrition, health care, education and protection they need to survive and thrive. These efforts include:
UNICEF has a presence in over 190 countries and territories, working to save and protect vulnerable children. Your support can make a difference