UNICEF: Half of Armed Gang Participants in Haiti Are Children

Geeta Narayan, the head of UNICEF's mission in Haiti, has disclosed that nearly half of the members of armed groups in the nation are children. This revelation is particularly concerning in light of the impending deployment of new multinational UN police and military forces aimed at addressing the escalating crime and violence in the area.

According to a report by the UN Secretary-General titled "Children and Armed Conflict" for 2024, gangs in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, have recruited at least 302 children. UNICEF further reports that the number of children involved in gangs surged by 200% in 2025. Most of these children are directly engaged in combat, raising serious alarm among international organizations.

Armed groups are actively utilizing social media to recruit new members, showcasing money, luxury, and opportunities that they can offer. The most vulnerable in this situation are homeless children, for whom gangs create networks for distributing food and shelter. In some cases, out of desperation, parents willingly hand over their children to criminals, hoping it will provide them with better living conditions.

According to the UN, minors are paid between $100 and $300 for tasks such as guarding kidnapped individuals, gathering information, or participating in robberies. For involvement in kidnappings or armed confrontations, payments can reach up to $700, making this illicit activity appealing to children living in poverty.

In 2024, one of the recruited teenagers recounted to CNN that he was only 11 years old when a gang offered him food in exchange for joining their ranks. Subsequently, he was tasked with burning the bodies of people killed by the gang, highlighting the horrific conditions these children find themselves in.

The situation in Haiti remains critical, with over 1.4 million people left homeless, and many schools and hospitals completely destroyed due to violence and instability. Since 2022, police or self-defense groups have executed at least three dozen children without trial, accusing them of gang affiliations, which raises further concerns regarding human rights in the country.

For minors who manage to escape from gangs, UNICEF is implementing a reintegration program called Prejeune, which has already involved over 500 individuals. This program aims to assist children in adapting to normal life after experiencing violence and trauma.

To understand the context of this situation, it is important to recall the events leading up to Haiti's current condition. On July 7, 2021, Haitian President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated by mercenaries in his private residence near Port-au-Prince. This assassination marked the beginning of a deep political and security crisis in the country, resulting in armed gangs taking control of significant portions of the capital.

In October 2023, the UN Security Council authorized the deployment of a Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) to combat gang violence in Haiti. In early April, the first reinforcement unit of the Gang Suppression Forces (GSF), which includes Chadian soldiers, arrived in Haiti. These forces, sanctioned by the UN Security Council, are expected to number around 5,500 personnel who will work alongside local police and military to improve the situation in the country.