The decisions made by President Donald Trump, including the 90-day suspension of foreign aid and the more than 90% reduction in USAID contracts, have worsened the humanitarian crisis in Haiti. These measures have led to the shutdown of essential services, such as malnutrition screenings for infants, increasing children’s vulnerability to disease and malnutrition.
The aid reduction has also impacted the education sector, forcing many schools to close, leaving a large number of children without access to education. This situation increases the risk of children being recruited by armed groups, exposing them to violence and exploitation.
As a result, UNICEF has made an urgent appeal for $38 million in funding to support educational programs and protect Haitian children from exploitation and forced recruitment. The agency emphasizes that education is a crucial tool for breaking the cycle of violence and poverty. It is critical that the international community responds to this call to mitigate the effects of recent political decisions and prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Haiti.
