Gunmen Attack Journalists, Police, and Medical Staff at Haiti’s General Hospital, Killing At Least Three

At least three people have been killed and several others injured in a violent attack at Haiti’s General Hospital in Port-au-Prince on Tuesday. Armed men opened fire during a briefing to announce the reopening of the country’s largest public hospital, which had been recaptured by the government in July after being occupied by violent gangs.
The attack occurred as journalists, police officers, and medical staff were waiting for the arrival of Health Minister Lorthe Blema. Reports indicate that two journalists and a police officer were killed in the gunfire. Disturbing images shared online show numerous injured and deceased individuals inside the hospital.

Dieugo André, a photojournalist who witnessed the violence, described the scene as “like a terrible movie,” adding that he was covered in the blood of injured journalists. The attack is believed to have been carried out by members of the Viv Ansanm gang, a notorious group operating in the capital.

Leslie Voltaire, head of Haiti’s presidential transitional council, condemned the attack in a video statement, expressing condolences to the victims’ families, particularly those of the Haiti National Police and journalists. He vowed that those responsible would face consequences for their actions.

This tragic incident highlights the ongoing crisis in Haiti, where gang violence has escalated since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Despite the establishment of a transitional government and the deployment of an international force, much of Port-au-Prince remains under gang control, with an estimated 85% of the city in the hands of criminal groups. The UN reports that approximately 5,000 people have been killed in gang-related violence in Haiti this year alone, as the country teeters on the brink of collapse.