Two Journalists and a Police Officer Shot Dead as Gunmen Attack Haiti Hospital
At least three people have been killed in an attack by armed men in Haiti during a briefing to announce the reopening of the country’s largest public hospital. Two journalists, Markenzy Nathoux and Jimmy Jean, and a police officer were reportedly shot dead in the attack at the general hospital in Port-au-Prince. Several others were wounded.
The site had been recaptured by the Haitian government in July after being occupied and destroyed by gangs. The Viv Ansanm gang alliance, which controls much of the city, claimed responsibility for the attack. They have opposed the hospital’s reopening, which had been occupied and destroyed by their group in March.
The violence occurred while journalists were waiting for Health Minister Lorthe Blema’s arrival. Images shared online showed several injured or dead individuals inside the building. Witnesses described the incident as horrific, with one journalist stating that he had blood from the injured on his clothes.
Despite the growing levels of gang violence in the country, including the deployment of an international force, Haiti continues to struggle. An estimated 85% of Port-au-Prince is under gang control, with the UN reporting that up to 5,000 people have been killed in violence this year. The country is on the brink of collapse.
