Toronto, ON, June 20, 2025 – As the world marks World Refugee Day, Haiti confronts a deepening humanitarian emergency. There are currently more than 1.3 million people – including 700,000 children – internally displaced throughout the country; 11 per cent of Haiti’s population.

Earlier this year, Plan International shared the findings of a needs assessment carried out in Haiti’s South and South-East departments, where more than 260,000 people displaced by armed violence – mainly from Port-au-Prince – have sought refuge.

The assessment exposed serious violations of children’s rights, including widespread sexual violence, the collapse of the education system, and growing risks of child exploitation and trafficking.

Based on surveys, focus groups and interviews with more than 200 internally displaced people, the findings revealed that more than 90% of children have been denied their fundamental right to education due to the prevailing violence and insecurity.

“Families continue to be forced to flee their homes and communities – some multiple times – facing extremely precarious conditions,” said Prospery Raymond, Country Director of Plan International Haiti. “As with other conflicts and emergency situations, children are hardest hit, with limited access to essential services and an ever-increasing exposure to the risks of violence and exploitation. Displaced girls are especially vulnerable to sexual abuse and harassment.”

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), as of April 30, 2025, more than 1,600 schools remained closed due to ongoing insecurity, with an additional 166 schools forced to relocate in search of safer learning environments. This marks a sharp increase since January, with 647 more schools shutting their doors and over 80,000 additional students and 3,000 teachers affected in just three months.

As the Atlantic enters a particularly active hurricane season, and with only a fraction of humanitarian aid efforts funded, the situation in Haiti remains deeply concerning.

Since 2022, Plan International has been actively responding to the ongoing crisis, prioritizing child protection and emergency support for displaced families. Current efforts focus on camps for internally displaced persons in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area and in Artibonite – where violence continues to escalate – and supporting families and host communities in areas such as Jacmel, Jérémie, and Anse-à-Pitres.

Plan International’s main interventions involve providing immediate assistance to vulnerable communities, including creating safe spaces for children, and distributing hygiene kits and menstrual health supplies for adolescent girls and young women. We also provide counselling and referral services to survivors of violence, particularly sexual violence, and support services for unaccompanied children, including helping them reunite with their families.

Additionally, we are providing cash assistance to vulnerable households to help meet their basic needs, especially purchasing food. During emergencies, access to income and essential goods is often disrupted, leaving families struggling to afford basic necessities.

“On World Refugee Day, we join the global call to protect the rights of displaced people, especially children,” said Raymond. “Providing girls with safe, quality education is not only a fundamental right — it is one of the most powerful tools to build inclusive, resilient and peaceful communities, especially for those forced to flee.”

Children, especially girls, are the most at risk in humanitarian emergencies and the most overlooked. Be a lifeline for children and donate to our Children in Crisis Response Fund.

About Plan International Canada

Plan International Canada is a member of a global organization dedicated to advancing children’s rights and equality for girls. Plan International has been building powerful partnerships for children for over 85 years and is now active in more than 80 countries.

We stand with children, especially girls, wherever they are oppressed, exploited, left behind or not equally valued. We’re determined optimists and will continue to persevere until we are all equal.

Please visit plancanada.ca for more information.

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