| GENEVA, 28 February 2025 – “In just one month, January this year, armed groups destroyed 47 schools in Haiti’s capital. With 284 schools destroyed in 2024, the relentless attacks on education are accelerating, leaving hundreds of thousands of children without a place to learn.
“With violence worsening across Haiti, education—a last hope for many children and a top priority for parents—has never been more at risk. Just yesterday, reports emerged of yet another attack. videos capture piercing screams of children on the floor, motionless with fear—a chilling reminder that these attacks do damage far beyond the classroom walls.
“On the back of such attacks, displacement and deepening poverty, UNICEF estimates one in seven children in Haiti is now out of school. And almost one million more are at risk of dropping out. Education—a last hope for so many Haitian children, and a top priority for parents—has never been more under threat.
“A child out of school is a child at risk. Last year, child recruitment into armed groups surged by 70 per cent. Right now, up to half of all armed group members are children—some as young as eight years old. Without access to education, children are more vulnerable to exploitation and recruitment by armed groups. Education is one of the most effective tools we have to break this cycle.
“No one knows this more than Haitians. Despite systemic challenges, literacy is a highly valued achievement in Haiti, and families take great pride in investing in their children’s education — from the spotless way children go to school, to families dedicating a significant portion of their income to schooling. For Haitian families, education remains a vital lifeline.
“And UNICEF is at their side, delivering formal and non-formal education interventions to ensure children impacted by the crisis pursue quality learning, including by rehabilitating schools damaged during attacks, by setting up temporary learning spaces, and by reintegrating displaced children into schools. UNICEF and partners are conducting catch-up classes to compensate for the time they lost during school closures.
“UNICEF is also providing school kits and cash transfers to help families cope with the financial strain posed by their children’s education and coordinating mental health and psychosocial support interventions, as well as awareness-raising activities on gender-based violence.
“This support is, however, minimal compared to the scale of needs in the country. UNICEF is asking for US$38million to ensure 600,000 children continue their education, despite the crisis. This would finance everything from the establishment of temporary learning spaces in displacement sites to more catch-up classes, and both formal and non-formal education initiatives. UNICEF and its partners also aim to rehabilitate schools and provide children with the necessary school supplies. And yet such critical interventions are five percent funded.
“And so yes, peace and stability are desperately needed in Haiti, but so are funds. Presently more than half a million children aren’t getting the education support they need and that UNICEF and partners can provide; not due to armed groups, but a lack of donor support. “
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Notes to Editors:
For more information, please contact: UNICEF UK Media Team, 0207 375 6030, [email protected]
About UNICEF
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.
The UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) raises funds for UNICEF’s emergency and development work for children. We also promote and protect children’s rights in the UK and internationally. We are a UK charity, entirely funded by supporters.
United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK), Registered Charity No. 1072612 (England & Wales), SC043677 (Scotland).
For more information visit unicef.org.uk. FollowUNICEF UK on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube. |
