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The reopening of the State University of Haiti Hospital, long awaited after its closure due to gang violence, turned into a tragic scene on Christmas Eve. Armed men opened fire at a press conference announcing the hospital’s return to service, killing two journalists and a police officer. Seven others, including several journalists, were injured.
The attack occurred Tuesday morning at the hospital, known locally as the “General Hospital,” in downtown Port-au-Prince. The gunfire interrupted the event before it officially began, sending reporters and officials scrambling for safety.
Johnson “Izo” André, one of the top leaders of the Viv Ansanm gang coalition, claimed responsibility for the attack in a video posted on social media. He stated that the gang had not approved the hospital’s reopening. The gang coalition controls much of the Haitian capital and has been accused of exacerbating the country’s humanitarian crisis through violence and intimidation.
The Haitian Association of Journalists confirmed that the deceased reporters were Jimmy Jean of Moun Afe Bon and Marckendy Natoux of Voice of America in Haiti. A police officer providing security at the event also lost his life.
In a statement, the government pledged to respond “firmly” to the violence. “This heinous act, which targets an institution dedicated to health and life, constitutes an unacceptable attack on the very foundations of our society,” it read.
The State University of Haiti Hospital had been shuttered since March, when gang violence surged, forcing staff to abandon the facility. It was reclaimed by the government in July, with authorities pledging to restore essential services amid a healthcare system already on the brink of collapse.
Gang attacks have severely disrupted medical institutions in Port-au-Prince, looting facilities and creating resource shortages. The closure of hospitals like the General Hospital has left thousands without access to care. Concurrently, a cholera outbreak has devastated makeshift camps and settlements, with over 84,000 suspected cases reported this year, according to UNICEF.
The attack underscores the broader instability gripping Haiti, where gang violence, political turmoil, and systemic collapse intersect. Despite these challenges, the government remains steadfast in its promise to reopen the hospital.
“The imminent and safe reopening of the State University of Haiti Hospital will be tangible proof of the government’s determination to defend the interests of the population and to relentlessly combat the forces of chaos,” read a statement from the office of Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé.
As investigations into the attack continue, it remains a stark reminder of the challenges Haiti faces in its journey toward stability and security.
