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STORY: UN / HAITI UPDATE
TRT: 02:11
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 31 JANUARY 2025, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE – NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, United Nations headquarters
31 JANUARY 2025, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, press briefing room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, United Nations:
“The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs tells us that violent clashes this week between security forces and armed groups on the outskirts of the capital Port-au Prince resulted in another wave of people trying to flee. Our colleagues at the International Organization for Migration say that more than 1,600 men, women and children have now been displaced. Two thirds of them have taken refuge with host families, while more than 500 are now living in three newly established displacement sites. Our humanitarian partners tell us that the situation for children in Haiti continues to be dire. The number of children internally displaced in the country has increased by nearly 50 per cent since September, surging to more than half a million children. You will recall that UNICEF said that approximately 1 in 8 children in the country is now currently displaced. Some three million children need humanitarian assistance, including more than 1.2 million boys and girls in the capital Port-au-Prince. There has been a 70 per cent increase in the recruitment of children by gangs over the past year, with up to 50 percent of gang members now estimated to be children in Haiti. That’s what UNICEF is telling us. At the same time, the forced returns of Haitians continue to drive up humanitarian needs. Nearly 15,000 Haitians were returned from the Dominican Republic in the first two weeks of January alone - adding to the 200,000 people who were returned from across the region in all of last year. In addition, natural disasters are also creating issues across Haiti. OCHA says that since November of last year, nearly 330,000 people were impacted by floods across six of Haiti’s departments. The floods claimed dozens of lives and damaged or destroyed nearly 50,000 homes. This year, we are appealing for $908 million to help 3.9 million people in Haiti. We urge the international community to scale up its support so that we and our humanitarian partners can support the people of Haiti who need it.”
4. Wide shot, end of press briefing
The United Nations sounded the alarm over escalating violence and humanitarian needs in Haiti, where armed clashes and natural disasters have displaced thousands and placed children at increasing risk. “The number of children internally displaced in the country has increased by nearly 50 percent since September, surging to more than half a million,” a UN spokesperson said.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters in New York today (31 Jan) that, according to UNICEF, "approximately 1 in 8 children in the country is now currently displaced."
According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), fighting between security forces and armed groups on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince this week triggered another wave of displacement. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that over 1,600 people—men, women, and children—were forced from their homes. Two-thirds of them sought refuge with host families, while more than 500 are sheltering in three newly established displacement sites.
Haiti’s children remain particularly vulnerable. UNICEF reports a 70 percent surge in child recruitment by gangs over the past year, with estimates suggesting that up to 50 percent of gang members in the country are now minors. In total, nearly three million children require humanitarian assistance, including 1.2 million in Port-au-Prince alone.
Meanwhile, forced returns of Haitian nationals from neighboring countries are compounding the crisis. “Nearly 15,000 Haitians were returned from the Dominican Republic in the first two weeks of January alone adding to the 200,000 people who were returned from across the region in all of last year,” Dujarric said.
Natural disasters have further exacerbated Haiti’s humanitarian challenges. Since November, floods have affected nearly 330,000 people across six departments, killing dozens and damaging or destroying close to 50,000 homes.
The UN is seeking 908 million dollars to assist 3.9 million Haitians this year, urging donors to step up their support. “We urge the international community to scale up its support so that we and our humanitarian partners can support the people of Haiti who need it,” Dujarric said.
