The recent gang attack on Haiti’s General Hospital has left a bloody mark on the journalism community and highlighted the growing violence in the country. The tragedy was a stark reminder of the dangers journalists face when covering sensitive stories in conflict zones.
According to eyewitness accounts, wounded journalists in bloodied clothing waited for help on the hospital floor in Port-au-Prince after the attack on Christmas Eve. Local photographer Jean Feguens Regala, who was on the scene, recounted the ordeal he experienced during the deadly attack that left two reporters dead and several others injured.
The gangs that forced the General Hospital to close earlier this year had promised to reopen it by Christmas. Journalists there to cover the incident found themselves targeted by suspected gang members, sparking a violent clash. The tragedy comes amid widespread violence in Haiti, with coordinated gang attacks on prisons, police stations and the international airport.
Regala described the terror they felt when they heard gunshots ring out near the hospital. Despite the presence of an armoured police vehicle, the journalists were not prepared for the attack. The situation quickly turned into a nightmare, leaving reporters lying on the hospital floor seriously injured, two of whom died in the brutal assault.
Local media reported that Johnson “Izo” André, a prominent gang leader in Haiti, claimed responsibility for the attack via social media, highlighting the brutality of the violence. Regala’s harrowing photos illustrate the devastating aftermath of the attack, with victims lying on the ground, bloodied and in critical condition.
The incident was called “a macabre scene comparable to pure and simple terrorism” by the Haitian Association of Journalists, which deplored the loss of two reporters and a police officer, as well as the injuries of seven other journalists. The government also strongly condemned the attack, stressing that it will not tolerate such attacks on institutions dedicated to health and life.
Gang violence has thrown Haiti’s health system into chaos, with looting, arson, and the destruction of medical facilities and pharmacies in the capital. This wave of violence has led to a massive influx of patients and a shortage of resources to treat them, putting the lives of many Haitians at risk.
In short, this attack on the General Hospital of Haiti has highlighted the fragility of the security situation in the country and the vulnerability of media professionals who risk their lives to inform the public. The Haitian authorities must take urgent measures to put an end to this spiral of violence and protect the population and the journalists who work courageously to bear witness to the reality on the ground.