Haiti: Over Half of Displaced Are Children
- Ongoing violence in Haiti is having a devastating impact, especially on women and children, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities and creating new challenges.
- Reports indicate a surge in sexual and gender-based violence, especially within displacement sites characterized by inadequate shelter, sanitation, and security.
- A significant portion of the Haitian population is grappling with severe food shortages.
Haiti‘s Crisis: Women and Children Disproportionately Affected by Violence, Food Insecurity
Table of Contents
- Haiti’s Crisis: Women and Children Disproportionately Affected by Violence, Food Insecurity
- Haiti’s Crisis: A Q&A on the Impact on Women and Children
- What is the current situation in Haiti?
- How are women and children affected by the crisis?
- What percentage of haiti’s displaced population are women and children?
- What is the extent of humanitarian assistance needed by women in Haiti?
- What are the challenges regarding access to healthcare and education?
- What is gender-based violence in Haiti?
- What types of gender-based violence are women experiencing?
- Are girls at risk in Haiti?
- What is the food insecurity situation in Haiti?
- How many people in Haiti are experiencing acute food insecurity?
- How many households headed by women are facing acute food insecurity?
- Are households headed by women more vulnerable to food insecurity?
- Food Insecurity by Region
- what actions are recommended to address the crisis?
Port-au-Prince“>Ongoing violence in Haiti is having a devastating impact, especially on women and children, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities and creating new challenges.
Key Data and Figures
The crisis reveals stark disparities and urgent needs:
- Women and children comprise more than half (55%) of Haiti’s displaced population.1
- An estimated 47% of haitian women and girls require humanitarian assistance in 2025.
- Access to essential health services is severely limited for women, while thier unpaid care burden has increased substantially. Insecurity has lead to the closure of numerous health centers and over 900 schools.2
gender-Based Violence on the Rise
Reports indicate a surge in sexual and gender-based violence, especially within displacement sites characterized by inadequate shelter, sanitation, and security.
- Women are disproportionately affected by sexual violence, including rape, gang rape, and abduction with murder.They are also increasingly vulnerable to attacks within their homes during neighborhood assaults by armed groups.
- Girls face heightened risks of violence when on the streets.
Food Insecurity Crisis
A significant portion of the Haitian population is grappling with severe food shortages.
- Approximately 5.7 million people in Haiti are experiencing acute food insecurity.
- Around 3.1 million households headed by women are facing acute food insecurity (PNRH, 2025).
- Households headed by women are particularly vulnerable: 65% in displacement camps, 60% in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, 50% in the rest of ouest, and 40% in Artibonite are experiencing acute food insecurity (IPC, 2025).
Recommendations
Addressing the crisis requires a multi-faceted approach:
- Provide immediate emergency food assistance and cash aid to households headed by women.
- Develop income-generating activities to bolster women’s resilience and livelihoods.
- Support women’s organizations to effectively advocate for their rights and needs and provide essential services to survivors of violence.
1 IPC_Haiti_Acute_Food_Insecurity_Mar_Jun2025_Report_French.pdf
2 Haiti faces ‘point of no return’ as gang violence fuels chaos | UN News
3 United Nations Provisions on Monitoring, Analysis and Presentation of Reports, 2025
4 Last Integrated Food Safety Classification in Phases April 2025 – CIF conclusions
Haiti’s Crisis: A Q&A on the Impact on Women and Children
The ongoing crisis in Haiti has created a dire situation, especially for women and children. This Q&A provides insights into the challenges they face.
What is the current situation in Haiti?
haiti is experiencing ongoing violence that is having a devastating impact on its population, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities and creating new challenges. This includes displacement, rising gender-based violence, and severe food insecurity.
How are women and children affected by the crisis?
Women and children are disproportionately affected by the ongoing crisis in Haiti, facing increased risks and hardships. A particularly concerning facet of the crisis is the increased vulnerability of women and children, who comprise the majority of displaced people. Additionally, many women require humanitarian aid and face limited access too essential services.
What percentage of haiti’s displaced population are women and children?
Women and children make up more than half (55%) of Haiti’s displaced population.1
What is the extent of humanitarian assistance needed by women in Haiti?
An estimated 47% of Haitian women and girls require humanitarian assistance in 2025.
What are the challenges regarding access to healthcare and education?
Access to essential health services is severely limited for women, while their unpaid care burden has increased substantially. Insecurity has lead to the closure of numerous health centers and over 900 schools.2
What is gender-based violence in Haiti?
Gender-based violence refers to violence directed against a person because of their gender. In haiti, the crisis has led to a surge in sexual and gender-based violence, particularly within displacement sites.
What types of gender-based violence are women experiencing?
Women are disproportionately affected by sexual violence, including rape, gang rape, and abduction with murder. They are also increasingly vulnerable to attacks within their homes during neighborhood assaults by armed groups.
Are girls at risk in Haiti?
Yes, girls face heightened risks of violence, particularly on the streets.
What is the food insecurity situation in Haiti?
A meaningful portion of the Haitian population is grappling with severe food shortages. The crisis has significantly impacted food security, leaving millions struggling to access adequate nutrition.
How many people in Haiti are experiencing acute food insecurity?
Approximately 5.7 million people in Haiti are experiencing acute food insecurity.
How many households headed by women are facing acute food insecurity?
Around 3.1 million households headed by women are facing acute food insecurity (PNRH, 2025).
Are households headed by women more vulnerable to food insecurity?
Yes, households headed by women are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity, facing higher percentages of food insecurity in displacement camps and also metropolitan areas.
Food Insecurity by Region
The following table shows differing percentages of acute food insecurity in households headed by women across diffrent regions.
| Region | Percentage of Households Headed by Women Facing Acute Food Insecurity |
|---|---|
| Displacement Camps | 65% |
| Port-au-Prince Metropolitan Area | 60% |
| Rest of Ouest | 50% |
| Artibonite | 40% |
what actions are recommended to address the crisis?
Addressing the crisis requires a multi-faceted approach,including:
- Providing immediate emergency food assistance and cash aid to households headed by women.
- Developing income-generating activities to bolster women’s resilience and livelihoods.
- Supporting women’s organizations to effectively advocate for their rights and needs and provide essential services to survivors of violence.
1 IPC_Haiti_Acute_Food_Insecurity_Mar_Jun2025_Report_French.pdf
2 Haiti faces ‘point of no return’ as gang violence fuels chaos | UN News
3 United Nations provisions on Monitoring, Analysis and Presentation of Reports, 2025
4 Last Integrated Food Safety Classification in Phases April 2025 – CIF conclusions