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.
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.
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.