A gang attack during the reopening of Port-au-Prince’s General Hospital on Christmas Eve resulted in the deaths of two journalists and left several others injured. The attack occurred as reporters were covering the hospital’s reopening, which had been closed earlier this year due to increasing gang violence.
Haiti’s interim president, Leslie Voltaire, strongly condemned the assault, which targeted journalists, residents, and police officers present at the event. Voltaire expressed his condolences to the victims’ families, the Haitian National Police, and the journalists’ association. He pledged that those responsible for the attack would be held accountable.
The assault was carried out by the Viv Ansanm gang coalition, which is believed to control a significant portion of Port-au-Prince. Gang violence in Haiti has crippled vital services, with gangs controlling roughly 85% of the capital. Journalists and police officers have frequently been targeted, exacerbating the climate of fear in the country.
The slain journalists were identified as Markenzy Nathoux and Jimmy Jean by the Online Media Collective. Graphic videos from the scene showed their bloodied bodies on stretchers, one of them still wearing a press badge. The attack has sparked widespread outrage and calls for justice.
Despite government efforts to regain control of the capital from the gangs, violence continues to escalate. Haitian authorities have vowed to thoroughly investigate the incident and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice, highlighting the ongoing risks to both public safety and press freedom in the country.
