In brief
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) condemns the fatal attack on its ambulance in Port-au-Prince, where police and vigilantes assaulted the crew, resulting in two patients’ deaths. The organization fears for its ability to provide essential care as violence surges in Haiti, especially since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), a renowned doctors' charity, has reported a harrowing incident in Haiti where at least two of its patients were killed after an ambulance was attacked in Port-au-Prince. The attack occurred while the ambulance was transporting three individuals with gunshot wounds to an MSF facility on Monday. Initially halted by authorities, the crew was redirected to a public hospital. Upon arrival, members of the police and what appeared to be vigilantes attacked the ambulance, using tear gas and slashing its tires. During the chaos, the wounded patients were forcibly taken from the hospital premises, leading to the executions of at least two of them, according to MSF. The status of the third patient remains uncertain. MSF reported that its staff faced severe violence during the ordeal, being insulted, threatened, and even held hostage for over four hours. The underlying reasons for this brutal act are yet to be determined. "This incident is a shocking display of violence and raises serious concerns about our ability to provide essential care to the Haitian populace," stated Christophe Garnier, MSF's head of mission in Haiti. Amid escalating turmoil, MSF is one of the last remaining humanitarian organizations actively working in Haiti. The country has seen a drastic increase in violence and unrest since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, which allowed armed gangs to seize control over many neighborhoods. Recent reports indicate that these gangs have taken control of 85% of the capital, leading to heightened fears among the residents. In the wake of this devastation, over 3,600 people have been killed in Haiti this year, and more than 500,000 have been displaced according to UN data. Although an international police operation, primarily involving Kenyan officers, has been sent to Haiti to secure critical locations, the situation remains dire. In a related development, several US airlines recently halted flights to Haiti due to incidents of gunfire aimed at aircraft near the airport. Concurrently, a new prime minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, has been sworn in, pledging to prioritize security restoration in the country.
