UNICEF's Response to the Haiti Crisis

Escalating hunger and malnutrition in Haiti 

Surging violence between armed groups, public health emergencies and a deepening economic crisis are threatening the lives and futures of more and more children in Haiti.

An alarming number are joining armed groups. Hundreds of thousands of children and their families live in dangerous communes, besieged by conflict between armed groups. Critical social services teeter on the brink of collapse. Humanitarian actors are often cut off from communities, unable to deliver urgently needed aid.

The situation is dire, but the stories from the ground show resilience and hope. One young girl shared her experience in a firsthand account of the crisis in Haiti, recalling how she survived a violent attack on her neighborhood.

UNICEF and partners are on the ground in Haiti determined to reach children like her with lifesaving support despite the most challenging conditions.

Impact of armed violence on children and families

UNICEF helps children displaced by violence in Haiti by establishing safe spaces and distributing emergency relief supplies. 

Nearly half the population faces severe food insecurity. Poverty has long been widespread, with nearly two-thirds of the population living on less than $2 a day.

With water and sanitation systems compromised, cholera has returned as a major threat. Providing the necessary services and support to those in need is complicated by fuel shortages and rising insecurity in the greater Port-au-Prince area.

Malnutrition in children makes them more susceptible to disease and less likely to recover from a treatable illness. “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,” UNICEF Haiti Representative Bruno Maes says.

Challenges to delivering aid to Haiti

Haiti has long dealt with multiple social, political and economic crises. The country lost many of its skilled professionals as teachers, health and social workers fled the country. Health care, including routine immunizations and primary health care services for pregnant women and children, have become increasingly difficult to access amid system collapse. 

Hurricanes and floods are constant reminders of the country's vulnerability to climate change. Earthquakes are also a constant threat. 

An increasing number of families try to migrate from Haiti, putting more and more children at risk of becoming separated from their parents and missing out on health care and education.

How UNICEF helps children in Haiti

UNICEF continues to deliver the critical supplies children need most —safe water and shelter, access to school and protection from harm.

Despite security and logistical challenges, UNICEF's ongoing response in Haiti includes lifesaving interventions and community-based support programs designed to protect children and families during the crisis.

Key efforts include: 

• screening and treating children for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) to reduce preventable child deaths and improve long-term health outcomes
• immunizing children against vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, polio and diphtheria, especially in hard-to-reach and displaced communities 
• expanding access to clean water and improving sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, which are essential to preventing cholera, diarrhea and other deadly waterborne diseases 
• reuniting children who become separated from their families and providing care for unaccompanied or orphaned children, ensuring they are protecting and supported
• delivering emotional and psychosocial support to children affected by violence, exploitation or child labor, helping them begin the healing process 
• preventing gender-based violence (GBV) by strengthening child protection systems, especially for girls and vulnerable youth in displacement settings
• creating safe spaces for learning, recreation and psychosocial support, where children can access mental health services in a nurturing environment
• re-enrolling out-of-school children and distributing essential learning materials, helping to restore access to education in the midst of crisis
• providing emergency cash assistance to vulnerable families, enabling them to meet basic needs like food, clothing, and transportation

Amid surging violence, UNICEF has urged the international community to work with the Haitian people and help provide a response that can better restore trust, hope and respect for international human rights law.

“By doing so, the international community will send a powerful message of unity and hope, not only to the people of Haiti but also to civilians across the world who are suffering violence, deprivation, and human rights abuses and violations," says UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

To help secure a safer, more stable future for children and families affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Haiti, UNICEF is calling for urgent international support and coordinated action.

Key advocacy priorities include:

• accelerating global efforts to protect civilians and restore law and order in Haiti by supporting Haitian-led solutions, including strengthening the Haitian National Police and judicial institutions
• fully funding UNICEF’s 2025 Haiti Humanitarian Action Plan, ensuring lifesaving aid reaches the most vulnerable children and families affected by violence, displacement, and poverty
• safeguarding humanitarian access by protecting schools, hospitals and emergency services, and ensuring that humanitarian corridors remain free from armed interference
• integrating long-term development goals into emergency relief efforts, so that children can access sustainable education, healthcare, clean water and child protection services
• improving preparedness for natural disasters, public health emergencies, and disease outbreaks through early warning systems and stronger health infrastructure
• empowering Haitian institutions and community leaders to engage with affected populations and those with influence, to prevent violence and promote peace-driven recovery

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to assist children in need. Your support can make a difference.

Donate

UNICEF in Haiti: FAQs

What is the current humanitarian situation in Haiti?

As of 2025, Haiti continues to face a severe crisis with widespread hunger, violence and displacement affecting millions.​

How is UNICEF responding to the crisis in Haiti?

UNICEF is providing essential services, including nutrition, health care, education and protection to vulnerable populations.​

How can I support UNICEF's efforts in Haiti?

Donations to UNICEF USA help deliver critical aid to children and families in need across Haiti.​