Gang violence in Haiti sparks displacement and suspension of medical services

Haiti’s MSF Hospital Suspends Operations Due to Gunfire Safety Concerns

A new wave of gang violence in Port-au-Prince has led to the suspension of hospital operations by aid group Doctors Without Borders (MSF). The organization, also known as Medecins Sans Frontieres, reported that approximately 800 residents had sought refuge inside its Cite Soleil hospital before operations were halted. MSF stated that no hospitals are currently open in the area where fighting is taking place.

The need for medical services remains substantial, but MSF could not guarantee the safety of staff or patients due to gunfire in the area. A security guard was struck by a stray bullet inside the compound. The violence has been attributed to fighting between powerful gangs that have seized control over large parts of the Haitian capital since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021.

Another hospital, Hopital Fontaine, reported evacuating newborns from its intensive care unit. MSF treated some patients who were transferred from the hospital, including pregnant women who gave birth overnight. Foreign troops arrived in Haiti in April as part of a United Nations-linked effort to address insecurity. However, past interventions have had limited impact on the situation.

Displaced residents, including 56-year-old Monique Verdieux, are taking refuge on the road to Toussaint Louverture airport. Verdieux stated that she is afraid to return home after witnessing gunmen burning buildings in her neighborhood. The situation continues to unfold as authorities struggle to quell the fighting and curb the influence of criminal groups.

Source: Al Jazeera