SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Gang violence in Haiti has displaced more than 300,000 children since March, the U.N. children's agency said Tuesday as the Caribbean country struggles to curb killings and kidnappings.
Children are more than half of the nearly 580,000 people who have become homeless in the last four months. The spike in violence began in late February after a series of coordinated attacks on key government infrastructure eventually led Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign in April.
“The humanitarian catastrophe unfolding before our eyes is taking a devastating toll on children,” Catherine Russell, UNICEF's executive director, said in a statement. “Displaced children are in desperate need of a safe and protective environment, and increased support and funding from the international community.”
Gangs now control at least 80% of the capital Port-au-Prince and the key roads leading in and out of it, with more than 2,500 people killed or injured across the country in the first three months of the year, according to the U.N.
Many children are living in makeshift shelters, including schools that are in poor hygienic conditions, placing them at risk of disease. School closures are also leading to a higher dropout rate.
The agency said children in Haiti are being forced to join violent gangs to survive as they often lack access to food, health care, clean water and sanitation. Displaced children and teenagers in Haiti also face a higher risk of sexual assault, exploitation, abuse and family separation, according to UNICEF.
The announcement comes days after hundreds of Kenyans arrived in Haiti to help rescue the country from the tight hold of armed gangs. The deployment received mixed reactions after a U.N. peacekeeping mission years ago introduced cholera in the country and was tainted with sexual allegations.
On Monday, U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser Jonathan Finer met with Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille to discuss the initial deployment of the U.N.-backed mission to Haiti. Finer reminded Conille of the United States’ strong support for accountability and oversight mechanisms as part of mission.
Haiti is also bracing for a strong hurricane season, which started earlier than usual. A tropical storm watch was in effect for Haiti’s southern coast as Hurricane Beryl moved into the Caribbean Sea.
FILE - A server ladles soup into a container as children line up to receive food at a shelter for families displaced by gang violence, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, March 14, 2024. Gang violence in Haiti has displaced over 300,000 children since March, according to a new report from the U.N. children's agency released late Tuesday, July 2, as the Caribbean country struggles to curb killings and kidnappings. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph, File)
TORONTO (AP) — Jose Altuve hit a tiebreaking single in a four-run seventh inning, Yordan Alvarez homered for the third straight game and the Houston Astros beat the Toronto Blue Jays 9-2 on Wednesday night for their 11th win in 13 games.
Houston’s Yainer Diaz reached base four times and drove in three as the Astros handed the struggling Blue Jays their 11th loss in 15.
Alvarez looked to be in pain after an awkward swing on his ground ball to second base that ended the first inning, but Houston’s designated hitter reached base in his next four plate appearances.
Alvarez doubled home a run in the third, led off the sixth with a solo homer, came around to score after being intentionally walked in the seventh, and capped his night with an RBI double in the eighth. He finished 3 for 4 with three RBIs.
Right-hander Tayler Scott (5-2) got the win despite allowing a game-tying single to the only batter he faced. Bryan Abreu worked a perfect seventh, Bryan King pitched the eighth and Rafael Montero finished.
Toronto’s Bo Bichette struck out on a pitch that hit him in the ninth.
Bichette opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the first but Alvarez tied it with a two-out double in the third.
Alvarez gave Houston a 2-1 edge with a leadoff homer in the sixth, his 19th, but Daulton Varsho tied it with a two-out single off Scott in the bottom half. Varsho went too far past first base and was thrown out to end the rally.
Chas McCormick reached on a fielding error by Blue Jays right-hander Zach Pop (0-3) to begin the seventh, and pinch-hitter Jon Singleton followed with a double. Altuve broke the 2-all tie with an RBI single.
Pop left after Alex Bregman lined out, but Jose Cuas didn’t retire any of the four batters he faced, walking Alvarez intentionally before allowing Diaz’s two-run single on his first pitch. Cuas exited after hitting Jake Meyers and Jeremy Peña with consecutive pitches to bring home a fourth run.
Astros right-hander Ronel Blanco, who no-hit the Blue Jays on April 1, allowed two runs and four hits in 5 2/3 innings.
ROSTER MOVES
Toronto put INF Justin Turner on the paternity list and recalled OF Steward Berroa from Triple-A Buffalo.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: RHP Justin Verlander (neck) is playing catch every other day, manager Joe Espada said. There is no timetable for Verlander’s return.
Blue Jays: RHP Jordan Romano will be sidelined for at least six weeks after surgery for an impingement in his right elbow, manager John Schneider said. It’s not clear whether the two-time All-Star will return this season.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays RHP Chris Bassitt (7-6, 3.24 ERA) is scheduled to pitch against Astros LHP Framber Valdez (6-5, 4.11) in Thursday afternoon’s series finale.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) wears City Connect spikes against the Houston Astros during the third inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho (25) hits an RBI single against the Houston Astros during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, top, forces out Toronto Blue Jays' Brian Serven (15) and throws to first base to complete the double play during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Houston Astros' Chas McCormick (20) hits a single against the Toronto Blue Jays during the third inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Zach Pop (56) works against the Houston Astros during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, center, forces out Toronto Blue Jays' Brian Serven (15) and throws to first base to complete the double play during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Houston Astros pitcher Tayler Scott (50) works against the Toronto Blue Jays during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho (25) hits a double against the Houston Astros during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez (44) hits a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez (44) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
