At least two journalists were killed in Haiti on Tuesday after a shooting allegedly carried out by gangs dominating most of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Several others were wounded, including police officers.
The incident took place at the reopening of the country's largest hospital, which had been closed earlier this year precisely due to gang violence.
As journalists gathered to cover the event on Christmas Eve, suspected gang members opened fire on the crowd. Robest Dimanche, spokesman for the Online Media Collective, blamed the attack on the Viv Ansanm (Living Together) coalition of gangs. Its leader, Johnson "Izo" Andre posted a video on social media claiming responsibility for the attack, saying the gang had not authorized the hospital's reopening.
Local press initially reported that seven other journalists and two police officers were injured in the attack. Haitian interim president Leslie Voltaire addressed the matter, pledging the crime "won't go unpunished."
Gangs had already targeted a health center in recent days, setting on fire the Bernard Mevs Hospital, the only neurological trauma center.
The attackers destroyed several vehicles in the hospital's courtyard, including an ambulance, and set fire to millions of dollars' worth of equipment. Two CT scanners, a 3D X-ray machine, the lab, operating rooms, and the pediatric ward were all damaged or destroyed. The gangs also targeted the office of Dr. Marlon and Dr. Jerry Bitar, the twin brothers who founded the hospital, the Miami Herald reported.
Though the hospital had recently emptied of its patients, it had been a vital lifeline for police officers, victims of trauma, and even individuals needing complex surgeries.
Some hospitals, like Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières, have partially reopened, but violence has made access to care increasingly difficult.
Authorities have been trying to keep critical infrastructure open. Earlier this month the country's main airport, Toussaint Louverture, reopened after a month-long closure.
The airport was closed following a series of incidents in November when commercial aircrafts operated by Spirit Airlines, JetBlue Airways, and American Airlines, came under gunfire from gangs near the airport. The FAA responded with a 30-day prohibition on U.S.-licensed airlines flying into Port-au-Prince.
Haitian authorities announced enhanced security measures at the reopened airport, including increased patrols and checkpoints involving police, soldiers, and an international force led by Kenya under United Nations support. A government statement described the reopening as part of a broader strategy to create a secure environment and revive economic activity.
Haiti's prolonged crisis, marked by gang violence, political instability, and economic challenges, has left at least 5,000 dead this year, according to the United Nations.
A report by UNICEF last week revealed that over 1.5 million Haitian children have lost access to education, and many face growing risks of exploitation, including recruitment into armed gangs
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