More than 1,600 schools were forced to shut down across Haiti between January and April due to the growing wave of armed violence, depriving thousands of children of their right to education.

The most affected departments—Centre, Ouest, Artibonite, and Nord—have witnessed relentless clashes between armed groups and rampant insecurity, transforming schools from safe havens into direct targets of violence.

According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the prolonged suspension of education poses serious threats to children, exposing them to risks such as forced labor, early marriage, and recruitment into criminal networks.

Experts warn that the absence of schooling in these areas could deepen Haiti’s instability and condemn an entire generation to a future of hardship.

Haiti’s humanitarian crisis continues to worsen, and the shutdown of educational institutions further cripples the nation’s chances for recovery.

The international community and local authorities must act urgently to restore safe learning environments and ensure children’s access to education. Without immediate intervention, the consequences for Haiti’s future will be irreversible.

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