Schools in Haiti under attack by criminal gangs

By Laura Gamba

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) - Schools in Haiti have not been spared from attacks by criminal gangs, the United Nations Children's Agency (UNICEF) said Thursday.

Acts of violence included shootings, looting, ransacking and kidnappings, it said.

UNICEF said attacks by these groups increased nine-fold in the first four months of the academic year, which began in October. In total, 72 schools were attacked compared to eight during the same period of the previous year.

At least 13 schools have been targeted by armed groups, according to reports by UNICEF. One school was set on fire, a student was killed and two staff members were kidnapped.

In the first six days of February alone, 30 schools were closed as a result of increasing gang violence in urban areas and one in four schools have remained closed since October last year, it said.

Approximately one million Haitian children are not attending school due to social unrest and violence.

Although schools have always been considered respected safe zones, they have increasingly become targets for violence in the country, according to UNICEF Representative in Haiti Bruno Maes.

“Armed groups consider looting schools as a lucrative alternative to other forms of extortion and crime,” he said. “This must stop. The targeting of schools by armed groups is having an enormous impact on children’s safety, well-being and ability to learn.”

Violent groups frequently loot school equipment, including desks, benches, boards, laptops, photocopiers, batteries and solar panels as well as bags of rice, dough and maize used for school meals.

During a visit to Haiti on Wednesday, Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, raised concerns about the acute crisis and the wave of violence.

“I heard about 500,000 children living in these circumstances, not being able to go to school properly, not being able to be comforted by their parents because their parents are afraid of what might happen the next day,” he said.

In the midst of the crisis, the Haitian Ministry of Education is intensifying its efforts to open the schools that have closed.