Haiti faces education crisis and rising child recruitment by gangs

Haiti is facing a severe humanitarian crisis as escalating gang violence disrupts the education system and fuels the recruitment of minors into armed groups. While schools are attempting to reopen, students must frequently navigate gang-controlled territories, risking crossfire and forced recruitment to attend classes.

According to UNICEF, the recruitment and use of children by armed groups surged by 200% in 2025, effectively tripling the number of minors involved in a single year. United Nations estimates suggest that children may constitute between 30% and 50% of the ranks within these armed groups.

Criminal networks exploit extreme poverty, hunger, and insecurity to recruit youth. Many children are forced into roles such as lookouts, weapon transporters, or direct combatants. For displaced families, schooling is viewed as a vital source of stability and therapy, yet the costs of education and the lack of physical safety remain significant barriers to learning.