The United Nations children’s agency, UNICEF has issued a stark warning about Haiti’s healthcare infrastructure, declaring it to be “on the verge of collapse.”
Citing a dire situation where six out of 10 hospitals in the country are barely operational, Unicef’s representative in Haiti, Bruno Maes, attributed the crisis to a combination of factors including violence, mass displacement, dangerous epidemics, and increasing malnutrition.
Maes emphasised that while various challenges have strained Haiti’s health system, the “strangling of supply chains” may ultimately be the breaking point. Armed gangs, which still hold control over much of the capital Port-au-Prince, pose a significant barrier to the delivery of essential medical supplies and aid, putting millions of children at risk of disease and malnutrition.
The instability gripping Haiti since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021 has only exacerbated the situation.
Gangs have progressively seized control of vast swathes of the country, leading to severe disruptions in essential services and exacerbating food insecurity.
Unicef estimates that as many as 4.4 million people urgently require food assistance, with 1.6 million facing emergency levels of acute food insecurity, heightening the risk of child malnutrition.
Despite the recent reopening of Port-au-Prince’s international airport after a three-month closure, Unicef highlighted significant operational constraints and a backlog of essential supplies. The agency reported that vital shipments have been either delayed or looted, further exacerbating the crisis.
Reginald Fils-Aimé, from the Haiti-based Zanmi Lasante NGO, underscored the impact of gang control on supply chains, hindering the transportation of healthcare staff and essential medicines.
He noted shortages of critical medications, particularly IV fluids, diuretics, blood pressure, and beta-blockers, which further strain an already fragile healthcare system.
Nadesh Mijoba, country director of the Haitian Health Foundation (HHF), lamented the closure of health services in many areas due to attacks and infrastructure destruction. She highlighted the increasing patient load faced by organizations like HHF, as people travel longer distances amidst the looming threat of violence and kidnapping.
The humanitarian situation in Haiti has reached catastrophic levels, according to Ms. Mijoba, who has been working in the country for over a decade. In response to the escalating crisis, Kenya plans to deploy police to Haiti as part of an international taskforce aimed at restoring stability.
Haitian and US leaders discussed strategies to address the crisis, including efforts to secure Haiti’s main seaport and establish a humanitarian corridor for critical aid deliveries.
Despite recent political developments, including the formation of a transitional council, gangs continue to exploit the power vacuum, leading to increased lawlessness in parts of the country.
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