In brief
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported a shocking attack in which at least two of its patients were killed after police and vigilantes targeted their ambulance while it was transporting gunshot victims to the hospital. The charity, also known as Doctors Without Borders, has once again drawn attention to the deteriorating security situation in Haiti, where armed gangs are wreaking havoc.
On Monday, MSF teams were en route with three injured patients when they were stopped by law enforcement who redirected them to a public hospital instead. Upon arrival, the ambulance was ambushed by police and “self-defense” group members, who assaulted the vehicle and forced its occupants out with tear gas. The fatal outcome saw two of the patients executed, while the fate of the third remains uncertain. MSF’s staff were brutalized during this appalling episode, being threatened and held captive for over four hours.Christophe Garnier, head of MSF’s mission in Haiti, expressed outrage, stating, “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.” As one of the last NGOs operating in the country, MSF highlights the severe challenges facing humanitarian efforts amidst rampant violence.Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, gangs have exerted significant control over the capital, and an alarming UN report noted that criminal organizations dominate about 85% of Port-au-Prince. The human cost has been staggering, with over 3,600 killings and more than 500,000 people displaced just this year.As international efforts strive to restore order, including a recent UN security operation led by Kenyan police, the chaos continues with reports of commercial airliners being targeted as they approach the capital’s airport. As a new prime minister assumes office, pledging to prioritize security, the humanitarian crisis in Haiti shows little sign of abating.
