After a gang attack on a small Haitian town, death toll rises to at least 115
PBS NewsHourSep 27
Haiti: UNICEF Estimate 70% Rise in Child Gang Members
Above: A young girl sits with a baby in a public square in the Port-au-Prince suburb of Clercine on Nov. 15, 2023 after fleeing their home in Blanchard, Cite Soleil, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, when gang clashes broke out nearby. Image copyright: Richard Pierrin/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
UNICEF's latest estimates claim that the number of Haitian children recruited by armed groups increased by 70% between Q2 2023 and Q2 2024.
UNICEF official Catherine Russell described the development as a "vicious cycle...fueling their desperation," with over 60% of the Haitian population living on $4/day and 85% of the country's capital city, Port-au-Prince, controlled by gangs.
The Spin
Narrative A
The global community continues to do little to resolve the ongoing crisis. Humanitarian workers are doing their best amid attempts by a Kenyan-led security mission to secure peace and stop the gangs, but their missions are underfunded and understaffed with little sign of urgency from external observers to find a solution. The world must step up in its response if the global community is to see an end to this tragedy.
Narrative B
History has repeatedly shown that foreign intervention is not a credible long-term solution to Haiti's troubles. Although the situation is dire, the Haitian people must be the ones to find a solution. The international community should continue to offer vital humanitarian assistance and support local communities while acknowledging that political interference will not solve internal division.
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