Six million people need humanitarian assistance, while 1.3 million people-including half of the children-having been forced to flee their homes, he added.
‘Shamefully neglected’
Haiti is now ranking among the five hot hotels in the world that are “more worrying,” said the United Nations. However, there remains the least funded humanitarian attraction in the world. Less than 10% of 908 million dollars required were received.
The UN chief deplored the level of international negligence, describing Haiti as “shamefully neglected and terribly underfunded”, while armed groups continue to block humanitarian access and workers in assistance.
Due to the lack of resources, around 1.7 million people may receive no humanitarian aid. “It is not a funding gap. It is an emergency of life and death, “he said, urging donors to act before rescue operations stop.
Throughout the country, the basic services collapsed and mass trips have left children without education, health care or any feeling of security. In April, the violence of the gangs had interrupted the schooling of some 243,000 children, while attacks against schools continued.
‘Unimaginable suffering’
The head of the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef),, Catherine Russellsaid young people from Haiti ambassadors lasted “unimaginable suffering in the midst of brutal armed violence”.
She noted that last year, the UN in Haiti had checked more than 2,000 serious violations against children – an increase of almost 500% compared to the previous year.
Last year, the Caribbean nation was among the five worst offenders worldwide, added Ms. Russell, including summary execution cases.
Even more worrying, she said, was the 700% increase in the recruitment and use of children by armed groups, in parallel with an increase of 54% of death and mutilation, according to Ms. Russell.
Children now represent 50% of all members of active gangs in Haiti.
“I ask the members of this council to use the whole lever effect available to protect children,” she said, and support “concrete actions” that will still prevent spiral violations.
‘Signals of hope’
Despite the dark perspectives through Haiti and the outbreak of violence and anarchy, “there are emerging signals of hope,” said the secretary general.
Closer coordination between the Prime Minister’s working group, the Haitian national police and Security advice-The multinational security support mission (MSS) improves field operations, he said.
However, more decisive international support is necessary to protect and widen these fragile gains.
The mission led by Kenyan was authorized by the Security Council in October 2023 and aims to help the too stretched Haitian authorities stem the violence of the gangs and to restore national security, especially in the capital.
Mr. Guterres praised the efforts of the Security Council to advance his proposal to strengthen the MSS through a logistical and operational support of the United Nations, and urged ambassadors “to act without delay and to authorize an international force, supported by the UN by logistics and operational support, and predictable funding”.
Publicado anteriormente en Almouwatin.