The number of children recruited and used by armed groups in Haiti has reached record levels, with a 200% increase in 2025, according to estimates. This reflects a growing reliance on the exploitation of children in a context of persistent violence by armed groups, UNICEF said today, on the occasion of the commemoration of Red Hand Day, according to a statement issued by the agency on Thursday, February 12, 2026.

The situation of children in Haiti remains critical. More than 1.4 million people are internally displaced, more than half of whom are children facing multiple crises, including armed violence, natural disasters, and extreme poverty. These conditions have fueled the growth of armed groups, forcing an increasing number of children to join them, according to the statement.