New York, 24 September 2021 (TDI): UN News shared a piece of news about the Haiti migrants who were expelled from the United States on Thursday. They face huge challenges after returning to their country. Migrants include women, children, and infants – with specific and immediate needs facing challenges like natural disasters, gang violence, and the pandemic.
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) expressed their concern on this “triple tragedy” situation with Haitians. Executive Director Henrietta Fore shared thoughts on the Texas border that “the best interests of children must trump all other considerations”.
He further added that when children and families face extreme challenges of violence, poverty, and displacement when they were expelled without any protection. These situations were the main reason behind their migration in the first place.
Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and has been facing political, economic, poverty, and civil unrest challenges for a long time. Returning to their home will only make the situation worse for children and women. The situation is still the same that drove them to migrate in the first place.
According to the UNICEF chief, “children should be returned to the place where their basic safety and wellbeing are in danger”. UNICEF also advised authorities to “avoid any use of force, help them to keep families together, and to provide all access to protect migrants’ needs”.
Meanwhile, UNICEF is coordinating with authorities to work for children and families to provide basic assistance. They provide child protection services, deliver drinking water, hygiene kits, mobile toilets, and handwashing stations.
