The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and its partners are concerned about the impact of ongoing insecurity in Haiti on access to schools, as the school year is due to start in September.

At least 919 schools are closed in the West and Artibonite departments, affecting some 156,000 students. In the West department, which includes Port-au-Prince, 39 schools are serving as sites for internally displaced people, while at least 20 other schools are occupied by armed groups.

Last week, “Education Cannot Wait,” the United Nations fund for education in emergencies and crises, allocated $2.5 million to support schooling efforts in Haiti, particularly in the West and Artibonite departments https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42856-haiti-education-us$25-million-emergency-response.html .

The UN continues to call on the international community for help in addressing the ongoing crisis in Haiti. Seven months into the year, the $674 million Humanitarian Response Plan is only 25% funded, with only $170 million received.

IH/ iciHaiti