On Tuesday, Haitian gangsters opened fire on a government press conference at Haiti's largest public hospital, killing two journalists and a police officer. The Viv Ansamm gang claimed to have committed the atrocities because of their control over that area of Port-au-Prince and denied the hospital permission to reopen.
The press conference was called 8 a.m. local time to mark the reopening of the Haitian State University Hospital in downtown Port-au-Prince, known to locals by its French acronym HUEH or “General Hospital.” The hospital was closed in February after gangs took over and destroyed much of the facility.
Video recorded after police investigation major surgery Evict the gangs in July showed Hospital walls were riddled with bullet holes, emergency vehicles were set on fire, and medical supplies were looted.
The American and French governments funded the construction of a replacement hospital, but then-interim Prime Minister Garry Conneill swore to rebuild HUEH, which served thousands of impoverished Haitians in the capital. It took several weeks for police to secure enough facilities for international health officials to tour the facility and begin a reconstruction project.
Infographic shows gunmen opening fire on journalists gathered for a government press conference announcing the reopening of Haiti's largest public hospital on December 25, 2024. (Photo by Mehmet Yaren Bozgun/Anadolu, Getty Images)
Conil is fired Although it was destroyed by the Haitian Transitional Council during a power struggle in November, restoration efforts at HUEH continued. At Tuesday's Christmas Eve press conference, Health Minister Duckenson Rothe Brema, who was appointed as part of the cabinet reshuffle following Connier's resignation, was expected to appear in high spirits.
Brema kept reporters waiting until after 11 a.m. when heavily armed gang members sprayed bullets into the hospital, killing two journalists and a police officer. According to the Haitian Journalists Association, at least seven other reporters I was injured Under attack.
Local media immediately fixed An attack on the Viv Insammon bandits, an organization led by Johnson “Izzo” Andre, one of Haiti's most powerful gang leaders. Horrifying photos of a bullet-riddled hospital were posted on social media, showing injured victims strewn on the floor.
“It felt like a terrible movie. My clothes have the blood of several wounded journalists on them,” says photojournalist Diugo Andre. said of haiti times After the attack.
“Some were punched in the chest, some journalists had parts of their faces destroyed, others were shot in the mouth or head,” photographer Jean Flegens Regala said. spoke. said Associated Press (AP).
Other witnesses said they fled for cover behind shipping containers and burnt out cars during the attack. The Associated Press reported that the gunmen were stopped by metal gates surrounding the hospital building, but fired through the bars.
“We heard the gunshots coming and all the journalists started moving to get into the hospital. They were trying to get in and there was constant gunfire,” Regala said.
Regala said the hospital did not have “doctors or nurses” or medical supplies needed for the reopening ceremony, so journalists and others covered their hands with plastic bags and tried their best to treat the injured. It is said that
The Haitian National Police (PNH) said several police officers were injured in fighting off the gang. Reinforcements were sent to secure the hospital area, including Kenyan police officers sent to Haiti as part of the United Nations-sanctioned Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS).
This was announced by an MSS spokesperson. haiti times They were not informed in advance of the hospital reopening ceremony by the interim government, nor were they asked to provide additional security for the event.
The Associated Press reported that when reinforcements arrived, gangs controlled all roads around the hospital, and arriving officers had to scale walls using ladders to reach injured journalists. He pointed out. Regala said the injured “lost blood for over an hour” before receiving proper treatment.
The Haitian Association of Journalists issued a statement on Tuesday angrily calling on the government to stop endangering the lives of journalists through propaganda if it fails to provide adequate security. Regala noted that reporters went to the hospital believing it would be safe because the health minister would be there.
The current interim president, Leslie Voltaire, extended “I sympathize with the victims, the national police and journalists,” he said, but the transitional government did not immediately respond to criticism that adequate security was not provided for the hospital reopening event.
“This attack will not be without consequences,” Voltaire assured the victims.
“This heinous act targeting an institution dedicated to health and life is an unacceptable attack on the very foundations of our society,” the interim government said in a statement late Tuesday.
Gang boss “Izo” Andre posted a video on social media on Tuesday claiming responsibility for the attack. Andre said he ordered thugs to shoot up the hospital because he refused permission to reopen HUEH.
Last week, Viv Ansamm set fire to another hospital in Port-au-Prince for similar reasons. Bernard Mevs Hospital served as a base for medical volunteers from the Canadian Humanitarian Society. team broken earth. The group stopped sending personnel to Haiti during the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic, but the hospital they built continued to operate until the gang destroyed it.
Andrew Furey, co-founder of Team Broken Earth and current Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador. called The destruction of Bernard Mevs Hospital is an act of pure “evil”.
“Honestly, I'm speechless. This place has helped so many people in Haiti. It gave me care. It gave me hope. I didn't deserve this.” said Fury.
