The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned that the number of children and women abducted in Haiti up to the end of August has already surpassed last year’s total.
According to UNICEF Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Jean Gough, “nowhere is safe for children in Haiti anymore”.
“Whether on their way to school, at home or even at church, girls and boys are at risk of being kidnapped anywhere, at any time of the day or night,” she said.
“This is every parent’s worst nightmare.”
UNICEF estimated, based on official sources, that 71 women and 30 children were abducted in the first eight months of this year, up from 59 women and 37 children last year.
The number represents one third of the 455 kidnappings reported, UNICEF said.
It said most of the kidnappings are taking place in the capital city of Port-au-Prince, and that most abductees are Haitian.
