Haiti Witnessing Disturbing Surge in Abductions: UNICEF
UNICEF has reported an alarming increase in abductions in Haiti, with nearly 300 cases documented in the first half of 2023. Women and children are the main targets of these abductions, enduring trauma and violence. The situation in Haiti is worsening due to collapsing healthcare and disrupted aid efforts. This shocking number is almost equal to the total for the previous year and nearly triple the count of 2021.
Gary Conille, UNICEF’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, expressed profound dismay in a stark announcement, stating, “The stories we are hearing from UNICEF staff and partners on the ground are shocking and unacceptable.”
Conille warned that the escalating trend of abductions poses a severe threat to the people of Haiti and those involved in humanitarian missions in the region. Armed groups are coercively abducting women and children, exploiting them for financial gain and strategic advantage. Escaping victims endure lasting physical and emotional trauma.
Amidst this crisis, nearly 5.2 million people in Haiti urgently need assistance, including almost three million children. Women and girls are subjected to sexual violence, while the nation’s children suffer due to violence or direct targeting.
The healthcare system’s collapse due to cholera outbreaks and malnutrition adds to Haiti’s dire situation. The escalating violence, along with armed groups and road blockades, hinders aid delivery.
Haiti’s political and security crisis following the assassination of its President in 2021 has exacerbated the already challenging socio-economic landscape. Conille emphasized the bravery of Haitian individuals facing these challenges but urged an end to the increasing terror they endure.
As Haiti’s crisis gains global attention, swift action is crucial to halt this distressing situation.
–Re-reported from the article originally published in SheThePeople
