P-to-P, March 26, 2024 [AlterPresse] — More than 125 thousand children, particularly in the departments of Artibonite and West, where the metropolitan area of the capital, Port-au-Prince, is located, would be exposed to a risk of severe acute malnutrition, in the context of an alarming increase in armed violence hitting Haiti.
This alert is launched by the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), in a press release dated Tuesday March 26, 2024, of which the online agency AlterPresse became aware.
Unicef warns of increased risk of worsening Haiti’s deadly nutrition crisis, pushing children “to the brink” due to escalating armed violence.
In addition to the clashes and instability in Haiti, “the situation is creating a health and nutritional crisis, which could cost the lives of countless children,” warns the director general of Unicef, the American Catherine Russell .
It calls for urgently guaranteeing the security of the population in Haiti, “so that they can access the vital services on which they depend, and so that humanitarian workers can reach children and families, who desperately need them “.
In a document published on Saturday March 23, 2024 on its site, consulted by AlterPresse, the National Coordination of Food Security (Cnsa) calls for urgent actions to help, for the period from March to June 2024, nearly 5 million people, almost half of the Haitian population, affected by high levels of insecurity acute food in Haiti.
Provisions must be made to make up for food consumption deficits and protect the livelihoods of these 5 million people, recommends the Cnsa.
The Cnsa deplores the continued deterioration of food security conditions, which results, among other things, from the persistent violence of armed gangs severely disrupting supply chains.
“The insecurity, which affects a large part of the Haitian capital, hampers, in particular, the delivery of ready-to-use therapeutic foods, used to treat children suffering from severe acute malnutrition, as well as their resupply, suggesting disruptions in the supply chain and significant consequences if the situation persists,” deplores Unicef.
One of its 17 containers, including essential items for the survival of mothers, newborns and children, including resuscitators and associated equipment, was looted in the main port of Port-au-Prince, UNICEF said.
Since January 2024, the deterioration of the security situation has continued to worsen the humanitarian crisis, leading to serious consequences on UNICEF’s ability to store, distribute and replenish necessary supplies.
Only two (2) hospitals out of five (5) are operational throughout the country, while only one (1) health center out of four (4) operates in the Artibonite department, the main rice growing area of the country, due to persistent insecurity, underlines the United Nations Children’s Fund.
UNICEF “calls for an acceleration of efforts by the international community to protect civilians, restore law and order to the streets, and ensure the safe movement of aid workers and vital supplies , including ready-to-use therapeutic foods.
The United Nations Children’s Fund urges the protection of schools, hospitals and other critical infrastructure on which children depend, as well as the safeguarding of humanitarian spaces. [emb rc apr 03/26/2024 13:25]
Photo: Account X of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
