In brief
The humanitarian group Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reveals that two patients were killed after their ambulance was ambushed during an attack by police and vigilantes in Port-au-Prince, emphasizing the dire security situation in Haiti.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), an international humanitarian organization, has announced that at least two of its patients were killed following a violent incident involving police and armed groups in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. On Monday, MSF's ambulance, which was transporting three patients suffering from gunshot wounds to a hospital, was intercepted by authorities who redirected them to a public medical facility instead.Upon arrival, the ambulance was reportedly attacked by police officers and members of a self-defence group, who slashed the tires and released tear gas into the vehicle. The patients were forcibly removed from the ambulance, leading to the execution of at least two individuals, according to MSF's troubling statements. The fate of the third patient remains unclear.MSF's staff were not spared either; they endured a violent assault, facing physical threats and being held hostage for over four hours. The group's head of mission in Haiti, Christophe Garnier, expressed profound outrage over the incident, stating that such violent acts jeopardize MSF's ability to provide crucial healthcare in a country grappling with increasing disorder.Haiti’s security situation has dramatically worsened since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, resulting in rampant street violence dominated by gangs—who now control approximately 85% of the capital. The United Nations has reported over 3,600 deaths in Haiti since the beginning of the year, alongside the displacement of more than half a million people.In a bid to restore order, the UN has deployed an international policing mission primarily comprised of Kenyan officers. These forces have managed to secure vital locations, including the airport, seaport, and national hospital. However, recent violent incidents, including gunfire targeting US airline flights, have led to temporary suspensions of air travel to Haiti, complicating the humanitarian crisis further. Amidst these challenges, a new prime minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, has been sworn in, with a commitment to prioritize security restoration in the region.
