Journalists in Haiti hospital attacked by gang, 2 killed.

On Tuesday, during the reopening of Port-au-Prince's largest public hospital, a gang attack resulted in the death of two journalists and injuries to several others. According to the online media association in Haiti, street gangs have taken over most of the capital, with an estimated 85% of the city under their control. As a result, the General Hospital was forced to close earlier this year. However, authorities had promised to reopen the facility on Tuesday. Unfortunately, as journalists gathered to cover the event, they were met with a vicious attack by suspected gang members on Christmas Eve.

The spokesperson for the Online Media Collective, Robest Dimanche, identified the deceased journalists as Markenzy Nathoux and Jimmy Jean. He also reported that an unspecified number of reporters were injured in the attack, which he attributed to the Viv Ansanm coalition of gangs. Haiti's interim president, Leslie Voltaire, addressed the nation and confirmed that journalists and police were among the victims. He expressed his sympathy for all those affected and promised that this crime would not go unpunished.

A video filmed by reporters inside the hospital showed two lifeless bodies on stretchers, with bloodied clothes. One of the men was wearing a press credential around his neck. Initially, Radio Télé Métronome reported that seven journalists and two police officers had been wounded in the attack, but no official information was immediately available. Another video, which could not be verified, showed reporters inside the building, some of them lying on the floor, presumably injured.

The leader of the Viv Ansanm gang, Johnson "Izo" André, claimed responsibility for the attack in a video posted on social media. He stated that his gang did not authorize the reopening of the hospital. This is not the first time journalists have been targeted in Haiti. In 2023, two local journalists were killed within a few weeks of each other. In one instance, a radio reporter was fatally shot, while in the other, a journalist was found dead.

In July, former Prime Minister Garry Conille visited the Hospital of the State University of Haiti, also known as the General Hospital, after authorities regained control from the gangs. The hospital was left in ruins, with walls and nearby buildings riddled with bullet holes from the ongoing battles between police and gangs. The hospital is located across from the national palace, which has also been a site of conflict in recent months.

The constant gang attacks have put a strain on Haiti's already fragile health system, with looting, fires, and destruction of medical facilities and pharmacies. This has resulted in a surge of patients in need of treatment and a shortage of resources to provide care. The situation is further exacerbated during the rainy season, which increases the risk of water-borne diseases. The poor living conditions in camps and makeshift settlements have also led to a higher incidence of diseases like cholera, with over 84,000 suspected cases reported by UNICEF.

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