Attacks By Criminal Gangs In Haiti Schools Are Increasing: Tables, Benches And Rice Are Also Looted

Illustration- (Photo: Unsplash/Heather Suggitt)

JAKARTA - It turns out that schools in Haiti have not been free from attacks by criminal gangs. This is a report from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Acts of violence included shootings, looting, searches, and kidnappings.

UNICEF says attacks by this group increased ninefold in the first four months of the academic year.

In October, a total of 72 schools were attacked compared to the previous year in the same period which was only eight schools.

"At least 13 schools were targeted by armed groups" according to a UNICEF report reported by Anadolu-Oana via Antara, Friday, 10 February. One school was burned down, a student was killed and two employees were kidnapped.

The report also said that in the first six days of February alone, 30 schools were closed due to increased gang violence in urban areas and one in four schools had closed since October last year.

About one million Haitian children are out of school due to social unrest and violence.

While schools have always been considered a respected safe zone, they are increasingly becoming targets of violence in the country, according to UNICEF's representative in Haiti Bruno Maes.

"Armed groups see looting schools as a lucrative alternative to extortion and crime," said Maes.

Maes added that targeting schools for crime has a negative impact on children's safety, well-being, and learning abilities.

Violent groups often looted school equipment such as desks, benches, blackboards, laptops, photocopiers, batteries, and solar panels as well as sacks of rice, flour, and corn used for school meals.

During a visit to Haiti on Wednesday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, expressed concern over the acute crisis and the wave of violence that is occurring.

"I heard about 500,000 children living in this situation, unable to go to proper school, unable to be comforted by their parents because they are also afraid of what will happen the next day," said Turk.

Amid the crisis, Haiti's Ministry of Education stepped up efforts to open previously closed schools.