Street children are a source of recruitment for gangs, especially at a time when they face poor living conditions and hunger in Haiti. After being recruited, they participate in all the gang's criminal activities,

“Children in Haiti are trapped in a vicious cycle — recruited into the very armed groups that are fueling their desperation, and the numbers are growing,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “This unacceptable trend must be reversed by ensuring children’s safety and welfare are prioritized by all parties.”