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Humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières, or MSF) has condemned a violent incident in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where two patients were killed after an MSF ambulance was intercepted by police officers and members of a vigilante group. The incident highlights the deepening security crisis facing the country, which has been grappling with widespread violence and instability.
According to MSF, the ambulance was transporting three young individuals with gunshot wounds to an MSF hospital on November 11 when it was stopped by law enforcement officers near the Drouillard area. The police redirected the ambulance to Hôpital La Paix, where they and members of a self-defense group surrounded the vehicle, disabled it by slashing its tires, and used tear gas to force MSF staff out.
MSF reported that two of the three patients were taken outside the hospital premises and killed. Christophe Garnier, MSF’s Head of Mission in Haiti, described the incident as deeply alarming and stated that staff heard gunfire but could not verify who carried out the killings. The third patient survived the encounter.
Garnier expressed grave concern for the safety of MSF’s personnel and the broader implications for providing medical care in Haiti, stating, “This act of violence against patients and medical staff raises serious questions about MSF’s ability to continue delivering essential care amid such insecurity.”
The humanitarian organization emphasized that it provides critical health services to Haitians, including trauma care and support for survivors of violence. MSF has called on Haitian authorities and all relevant parties to ensure safe and unhindered access to medical care, stressing the need for respect and protection for both patients and healthcare workers.
Humanitarian Context and Security Concerns
The incident underscores the escalating violence and complex security challenges in Haiti, where armed groups frequently clash with law enforcement and exert control over parts of the capital. The targeting of medical personnel and patients has raised concerns among humanitarian organizations operating in the region, with some warning that it jeopardizes their ability to continue delivering life-saving services.
MSF noted that its personnel were subjected to threats, tear gas, and prolonged detainment before being allowed to leave the area in a secondary vehicle due to the damage inflicted on the ambulance. “Our teams need a minimum level of safety to continue providing medical care,” Garnier stressed.
This event has prompted renewed calls for a coordinated response to Haiti’s security crisis, including measures to protect healthcare services and ensure humanitarian aid can reach those most in need.
