Two journalists were killed and several wounded in a gang attack on the reopening of Port-au-Prince’s biggest public hospital, the General Hospital. Street gangs forced the hospital’s closure earlier this year but authorities had promised to reopen it on Christmas Eve. However, as journalists arrived to cover the event, suspected gang members opened fire, killing two reporters, Markenzy Nathoux and Jimmy Jean, and a police officer.
The attack is part of an ongoing wave of violence in Haiti, which has seen coordinated gang attacks on prisons, police stations, and the main international airport. The Haitian Association of Journalists confirmed two reporters and a police officer were killed, with seven reporters wounded.
Haiti’s interim president, Leslie Voltaire, condemned the attack, calling it “an unacceptable attack on our society.” The government vowed to respond firmly to the violence. Street gangs have taken over 85% of Port-au-Prince and have targeted the main international airport and Haiti’s two largest prisons.
The attack is the latest in a series of violent incidents in Haiti, which has seen its health system pushed to the brink of collapse due to gang attacks on medical institutions and pharmacies. The country faces significant challenges during the rainy season, which could increase the risk of water-borne diseases.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/haiti-gang-violence-capital-journalists-a7b6c5606f112e8098b390f3b83763ca