Visit of Princess Sarah Zeid to Haiti - PRESS RELEASE | Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Haiti

In Haiti, Princess Sarah champions children’s well-being and women’s empowerment at the heart of Haiti’s recovery

Her Royal Highness Princess Sarah Zeid concluded a high-level United Nations mission to Haiti, urging increased investment in maternal and newborn health, school meals, and in women’s economic opportunities and resilience.

·      Haitian women play a central role in food security and household incomes yet increasingly face violence and the erosion of their livelihoods.

·      Integrated investment through infancy, adolescence and adulthood is pivotal to Haiti’s recovery.

·      Establishment of a trust fund to contribute to coordinated resource mobilization efforts to enable integrated support for maternal and child health, nutrition, education, social protection and livelihoods.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – 

Princess Sarah Zeid concluded a four-day mission to Haiti with a strong call for urgent action to address the country’s deepening humanitarian and food security crisis through increased support for women as critical drivers of recovery.

The high-level advocacy visit, hosted by Ms. Nicole Boni Kouassi, Deputy Special Representative for the United Nations / Resident Coordinator / Humanitarian Coordinator and facilitated by the World Food Programme under the leadership of Country Director Ms. Wanja Kaaria, aimed to mobilize international and national engagement, increase funding, and promote policy solutions that prioritize maternal and newborn health, food security, and the empowerment of Haitian women, the lifeline of Haiti’s informal economy.

Princess Sarah is Special Advisor to the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator’s Special Initiative on Maternal and Newborn Health in Crisis, where she shines a spotlight on the plight of mothers and babies living in some of the hardest hit places - and ensuring that they are not forgotten in humanitarian and emergency responses, She is longtime advocate for the health and wellbeing of mothers and children in all settings.

In Haiti, escalating violence, economic freefall, mass displacement and failing public services have plunged the country into a critical humanitarian emergency. With more 6.8 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and more than half of all Haitians facing acute food insecurity, with women and children bearing the brunt of the crisis.

“Women are the backbone of recovery in Haiti. Children’s futures depend on women’s wellbeing and economic empowerment,” Princess Sarah reiterated during meetings with Haitian officials, humanitarian workers, and affected communities. “Investing in women is not charity; it is the cornerstone of Haiti’s future, which will translate into better nutrition, education and protection for children, ensuring they can survive, grow, learn and thrive.”

At the heart of the advocacy agenda is recognition that sustained investments from pregnancy through adolescence in health, education, and nutrition are critical to shaping a child’s future. The visit stressed that this journey relies heavily on women, who sustain households and entire communities despite worsening insecurity and economic marginalization.

“We must urgently work together to support women in delivering vital change; ensure maternal and child health, adequate nutrition, and access to education, health care, and services for children, women, and survivors of gender-based violence. These actions must build on ongoing efforts to provide care and facilitate access to social services, and they pave the way for sustainable progress for families, restore livelihoods, economically empower women, and create stability for communities,” said Ms. Nicole Boni Kouassi, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator. 

The mission concluded with a declaration urging international donors, governments, and private sector partners to rally behind Haiti at this critical time. Proposals include creating a dedicated mechanism within a proposed trust fund to finance women’s economic recovery, while also exploring innovative partnerships to sustain advocacy and resources for Haitian women and children.