Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has condemned the violent attack on its ambulance earlier this week in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, which resulted in the deaths of at least two patients. The incident occurred on Monday when the ambulance, transporting three young individuals with gunshot wounds, was stopped by members of a vigilante group and law enforcement officers about 100 meters from MSF’s hospital in the Drouillard area.
According to MSF staff, the attackers forcibly halted the vehicle, which was en route to provide life-saving care, and insisted on transferring the patients to a public hospital. Upon arrival, police attempted to arrest the wounded individuals before escorting the ambulance to the hospital. There, the situation escalated as law enforcement officers, accompanied by members of a self-defense group, surrounded the vehicle, slashed its tires, and tear-gassed the MSF staff inside, forcing them out.
The wounded patients were then taken a short distance away, where at least two were executed, MSF reported. The violence has been condemned as a disturbing act that calls into question the safety and feasibility of continuing vital medical care in an increasingly dangerous environment.
“This act is a shocking display of violence and it seriously calls into question MSF’s ability to continue delivering essential care to the Haitian people,” said Christophe Garnier, MSF’s head of mission.
This attack is part of a broader pattern of rising violence in Haiti, where gangs and armed groups have increasingly targeted medical personnel and institutions, making it perilous for humanitarian organisations to operate. MSF has been a crucial provider of medical services in the region, but incidents like this underscore the growing challenges to delivering essential healthcare amidst escalating instability.
Melissa Enoch
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