Haiti | Two journalists killed by gangs during hospital reopening

(Port-au-Prince) Two journalists were killed Tuesday in a gang-triggered shooting while covering the reopening of a hospital in downtown Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital, a media collective told AFP.

“Markenzy Nathoux and Jimmy Jean were killed this Tuesday, December 24 during the attack by bandits from the “Viv ansanm” coalition [Vivre ensemble] at the time of the reopening of the HUEH hospital [Hôpital de l’Université d’État d’Haïti] » Robest Dimanche, spokesperson for the Online Media Collective (CMEL), told AFP, adding that other journalists are injured and are being treated in another public hospital.

Street gangs have taken control of much of Port-au-Prince. They forced the closure of the general hospital earlier this year during violence that also targeted Haiti's main international airport and two largest prisons.

The Hospital of the State University of Haiti, also known as the General Hospital, had been closed since February 29, after being attacked by members of the “Viv ansanm” coalition gangs.

“Journalists injured during an armed attack by “Viv Ansam” bandits against HUEH on Tuesday 24. The Minister of Public Health announced the reopening of the hospital before Christmas. Journalists and other media workers […] inside the building. It’s total panic in the city center,” says X Gazette Haiti broadcasting photos of injured people on the ground in the hospital.

“Bandits are currently attacking the General Hospital. According to initial information, several journalists were hit by gunfire,” also reported on X Radio Télé Galaxie, which reported at least one death according to its “collaborator on site.”

The “Viv ansanm” gang coalition burned down the private establishment Bernard Mevs, another important hospital center in Port-au-Prince, last week, destroying a large part of the hospital, but without causing any casualties.

Haiti, a poor Caribbean country, faces endemic armed gang violence and political instability.

Tuesday's attack comes amid growing insecurity in Port-au-Prince, where gang attacks have taken place in several neighborhoods for more than a month.

In early December, at least 207 people were killed during abuses ordered by a powerful gang leader against practitioners of the voodoo cult, according to the UN.

The arrival this summer of a multinational mission to support the Haitian police, led by Kenya and supported by the UN and the United States, has not made it possible to reduce the abuses of armed groups, accused of numerous murders, rapes, looting and kidnappings for ransom.

The latter also attack important buildings and notably caused the closure of the capital's airport to commercial traffic in November.