Haiti has endured decades of political and economic instability, culminating in a surge of gang violence across the country in early 2024, which is yet to abate. This cycle of violence and institutional collapse has triggered a severe humanitarian crisis, with children among its most affected victims.

This worsening humanitarian crisis presents a constant and direct threat to children’s fundamental rights—not only their access to food, education, and protection, but also the stability and care essential to their development and well-being. Children’s right to protection is particularly endangered, as they are increasingly exposed to violence within their homes, schools, and communities.

Un Enfant par la Main (UEPLM), a member of ChildFund Alliance, has been working in Haiti for more than 40 years*. In the face of the country’s growing upheaval, UEPLM remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding children’s rights—continuously adapting its programs and partnerships to meet the evolving needs of children and families living in an increasingly volatile environment.

The impact of violence on humanitarian access

The widespread violence in Haiti not only acts as an ever present danger, but it has also obstructed the delivery of essential services, including schools and healthcare services. It also has a detrimental impact on the delivery of humanitarian aid by organisations.

In the Artibonite region, the security threats have forced UEPLM to significantly reduce its field presence. While local partners are sometimes available to fill the gaps, direct implementation has become unsafe for aid community workers.

Disruptions in aid delivery have serious and concrete consequences for children. For instance, educational supplies procured in Port-au-Prince remain stuck and undelivered or delivered with delays, as gang violence has rendered key roads impassable.

Recent assessments in Nippes, one of UEPLM’s key program areas, reveals other critical gaps in the fulfillment of children’s rights:

• Financial hardship (72% of families), early pregnancy (60%), long travel distances (19%), and school-based violence (13%) are among the most significant barriers to education.

• High rates of malnutrition, respiratory infections, and diarrheal diseases persist, worsened by poor access to clean water. Girls are disproportionately affected, often missing school to collect water.

• In rural areas, formal protection services for children are virtually non-existent, leaving those affected by violence or abuse without psychosocial or legal support.

Despite the many challenges, Un Enfant par la Main continues to deliver life-changing support for children, young people and families.

Education and child protection

In 2024, in Chaîne des Matheux (Artibonite), in partnership with Inter Aide, UEPLM has trained 37 teachers and constructed six new classrooms, creating better learning environments for almost 700 students.

In addition, 15 gatherings were organized with parents from five partner schools to discuss topics such as the importance of early childhood education (preschool) and compliance with the school calendar. In Salagnac, eight schools were furnished, reaching over 1,200 children. To further support access to learning, 1,150 school kits and 200 solar lamps were distributed. In addition, 97 teachers received training to strengthen both education quality and child safeguarding practices.

Looking ahead to 2025, UEPLM will expand disaster preparedness programming in schools through partnerships with Civil Protection authorities. Sessions will focus on cyclone and earthquake safety.

Efforts to prevent sexual abuse will also intensify, with targeted awareness-raising campaigns in collaboration with the Institute for Social Welfare.

Food security and economic development

In 2024, more than 1,500 farming families received seeds and tools to support food production. UEPLM also supported agroforestry gardens and strengthened women-led savings groups to improve community resilience.

In the coming year, the organization will distribute short-cycle seeds and livestock to vulnerable households and scale up income-generating initiatives such as rabbit farming (cuniculture). Support for agroecological farming—rooted in traditional knowledge—will remain a priority.

Water, sanitation and hygiene

To improve access to safe water, in 2024 UEPLM has constructed seven new water cisterns and three water basins in Salagnac. In Chaîne des Matheux, a school latrine block was also fully rehabilitated.

In 2025, five additional water cisterns will be installed to improve local access to usable water for domestic needs, ensuring that even more children and families are reached, while also reducing the time children—especially—spend collecting water over long distances.

Call to action: what Haiti’s children need now

UEPLM’s holistic, community-based approach is making a real difference—but greater support is urgently needed to ensure the protection and well-being of children in Haiti. The organization calls on the international community to:

• Advocate for safe humanitarian access: Insecurity must not prevent the delivery of essential services for children.
• Invest in rural services: remote communities face the greatest challenges and need increased support for education, healthcare, and water infrastructure.
• Support local child protection mechanisms: decentralized mechanisms are key to delivering psychosocial and legal assistance for children exposed to violence.
• Listen to and uplift local voices: trusted, long-established organizations like UEPLM are lifelines for communities and are essential in maintaining support and services  despite immense challenges.

Standing with Haiti’s children

Rooted in a deep understanding of local realities Un Enfant par la Main continues to stand by Haiti’s children, even in the face of severe adversity.  Their work is a testament to the power of partnership, perseverance, and local leadership.

As the crisis deepens, solidarity and sustained support are more essential than ever. Continued investment in locally led responses is critical to ensuring the protection and well-being of children in Haiti.

* Before 2017, the organization operated as Enfants sans Frontières. Following a merger that year, it has since been known as Un Enfant par la Main. Learn more about their work.