Haiti

Save the Children International (SCI) is operating in Haiti since 1978. The interventions are focused on child protection, education, health and nutrition, water and sanitation, food security and livelihoods, humanitarian relief, disaster risk reduction and emergency preparedness for children and their families.

As the crisis worsens, some 21,000 children have been forced to leave their homes in the last two weeks due to the intensification of violence. These massive displacements are compounded by the alarming recruitment of children by armed gangs, who now account for almost half of the membership of these criminal groups. 

Exploiting the vulnerability of young people in a context of growing despair marked by the collapse of state structures and a drastic reduction in opportunities, gangs often offer children a false promise of protection and means of subsistence. Access to education, a safe living environment and basic services is becoming increasingly restricted, driving many young people to join gangs by default.

Since November 11, the intensification of violence and insecurity has forced more than 41,000 people to leave their homes, according to the International Organization for Migration. This is the largest wave of displacement recorded since January 2023, bringing the total number of people displaced by gang violence to over 700,000.

In the face of this persistent violence, which continues to affect Haitian families, more than 1.2 million children and teachers are in urgent need of educational support and safe working conditions.

This year, Haiti's Ministry of Education reported the closure of 919 schools across the country, an increase of over 20% compared to 2023. Escalating violence in Port-au-Prince, now spreading to new localities, has severely disrupted school attendance, depriving over 300,000 children of their right to education and further exposing them to the risk of gang recruitment.

Approximately one hundred staff are currently contributing to both urban and rural communities within the country (West, South, Grand’Anse, Northeast and Northwest departments) for the implementation of humanitarian response and development projects.

In the framework of its interventions and using its common approaches per sector, SCI works with in collaboration with its strategic and implementing partner; and local actors towards its 2030 breakthroughs that aim that all children survive, learn, and are protected. Save the Children Haiti is co-lead of the Education cluster/sector and engages with several ministries including the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Women Affairs, the Institute of Social Welfare (IBESR) and the Civil Protection Department of the Ministry of Interior, amongst others.

Despite the complex socio-economic and political situation, Save the Children remains concerned about the critical humanitarian crisis in Haiti as it continues its efforts on building and responding with a strategic and flexible programming that manage risk (Strengthened safety, security and business continuity plans and ensure a quality delivery (localization scale-up- delivering through partners who have local knowledge and access to some of the hardest-to-reach communities) of the Haiti’ Strategic Plan.