During a high-level United Nations mission to Haiti, Yasmine Sherif, Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait (ECW), announced a US$2.5 million Emergency Response Grant. The grant will help ensure vital access to quality education for girls and boys affected by the rise in violence, insecurity and forced displacement that is putting millions of children at risk. Total funding in Haiti now stands at over US$15.8 million.

The 12-month grant will be implemented by UNICEF in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP) and other local and international partners. The program will reach nearly 75,000 children and adolescents in the hard-hit West and Artibonite departments.

The investment includes innovative cash transfers, back-to-school incentives, school feeding programs, early childhood education, disability inclusion, gender transformative approaches, mental health and psychosocial support, environmental awareness activities and other holistic education offerings designed to ensure that girls and boys have access to safe and protective learning environments.

"The education crisis unfolding in Haiti is seriously close to becoming an education tragedy. While enrolment rates were already low before the latest escalation of violence, school closures and mass displacement are robbing thousands more children of their opportunity to learn. Hence, UNICEF is grateful to Education Cannot Wait for the continued support and commitment to ensure every child in Haiti has access to quality and safe learning" said Bruno Maes, UNICEF Representative in Haiti.

Despite these urgent needs, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the US$30 million needed for the education response under the country's Humanitarian Response Plan is only 27% funded.

HL/ HaitiLibre