In a deeply concerning incident this week, the humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported that two of its patients tragically lost their lives after an ambulance transporting them was attacked by police and vigilantes in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Tragic Attack on Ambulance Highlights Violence in Haiti
Tragic Attack on Ambulance Highlights Violence in Haiti
Doctors Without Borders reports the deaths of patients during an ambulance assault amid growing chaos in Port-au-Prince.
The charity detailed that on Monday, its ambulance staff were en route to a facility when they were stopped by authorities who redirected them to a public hospital instead. Upon arrival, they faced aggression from officers and members of a self-defense group, who slashed the vehicle's tires and forced the patients out amid tear gas. MSF stated that following the attack, at least two wounded individuals were reportedly executed after being taken away from the hospital premises. The fate of a third patient remains unclear.
Additionally, MSF's medical team endured violence during the incident, being attacked, insulted, and threatened, with reports of them being held hostage for over four hours before their release. Christophe Garnier, the group's head of mission in Haiti, expressed grave concerns regarding the capacity of MSF to provide critical medical assistance amid such violence.
MSF, also known as Doctors Without Borders, is notably one of the few remaining NGOs operating in the region, which has seen escalated violence following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. Consequently, armed gangs now control a significant portion of Port-au-Prince, with the United Nations indicating that these criminal organizations dominate 85% of the capital.
The recent timeline reflects the alarming instability in Haiti, where over 3,600 people have been killed since the start of the year, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced from their homes. In response to the escalating violence, the UN has orchestrated an international policing operation, primarily involving Kenyan police, that has aimed to secure vital areas in the city, including healthcare and transportation hubs.
Despite these efforts, fears have escalated among both locals and international entities. A spike in violent incidents recently prompted several US airlines to suspend flights to Haiti after multiple aircraft were fired upon while approaching the airport. Amid this turmoil, a new prime minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, was inaugurated, signaling a focus on restoring security in the embattled nation.
Additionally, MSF's medical team endured violence during the incident, being attacked, insulted, and threatened, with reports of them being held hostage for over four hours before their release. Christophe Garnier, the group's head of mission in Haiti, expressed grave concerns regarding the capacity of MSF to provide critical medical assistance amid such violence.
MSF, also known as Doctors Without Borders, is notably one of the few remaining NGOs operating in the region, which has seen escalated violence following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. Consequently, armed gangs now control a significant portion of Port-au-Prince, with the United Nations indicating that these criminal organizations dominate 85% of the capital.
The recent timeline reflects the alarming instability in Haiti, where over 3,600 people have been killed since the start of the year, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced from their homes. In response to the escalating violence, the UN has orchestrated an international policing operation, primarily involving Kenyan police, that has aimed to secure vital areas in the city, including healthcare and transportation hubs.
Despite these efforts, fears have escalated among both locals and international entities. A spike in violent incidents recently prompted several US airlines to suspend flights to Haiti after multiple aircraft were fired upon while approaching the airport. Amid this turmoil, a new prime minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, was inaugurated, signaling a focus on restoring security in the embattled nation.
