Haiti: UN aid worth $2.5 million to support education amidst escalating violence
United Nations (New York) July 27, 2024- The United Nations and its partners announced, on Friday, the allocation of an urgent grant worth $2.5 million to support Haiti to confront an “educational crisis” through providing access to quality and safe education, notably as gang violence is worsening.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned, in a statement, that the educational crisis unfolding in Haiti is “on the verge of becoming a tragedy,” noting that school closures and mass displacement are depriving thousands of children of their right to learn.
UN reports showed that about 5.5 million Haitians are in need of aid, while another five million face acute food insecurity. In addition to around 580,000 people have been displaced across the country, marking an increase of 60 % since the end of February.
The pace of violence has escalated since the beginning of this year, forcing Ariel Henry to resign from his position as Prime Minister. Haiti has long suffered from a rampent violence led by armed groups that are now controling 80% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, as well as the main roads.
To assist the Haitian National Police in combating gang violence, a second battalion of 200 police officers as part of a multinational security mission led by Kenya and supported by the United Nations recently arrived and deployed, in hope to end the crisis.
