On Sunday May 22, 2022, the international NGO Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) expressed its concern at the temporary closure of several hospitals in Port-au-Prince, due to the kidnapping of doctors, against the backdrop of armed clashes between gangs in Port-au-Prince.

"We are very concerned about the unacceptable situation of insecurity affecting our colleagues in Haiti’s medical community," said Dr. Samson Frandy, medical manager of MSF’s Turgeau emergency center in a statement, adding "The effects on the already weak health system are enormous, and this situation is putting a pressure on our center which is hard to bear. [...] Kidnappings for ransom that target many residents of Port-au-Prince, including medical personnel, are making it increasingly difficult for the population to access health care."

At least four hospitals have been temporarily closed in support of kidnapped doctors, as a strike looms to expose the crimes. This is why many patients from these centers are referred to the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) emergency center in Turgeau, which is overwhelmed by the situation.

Medical activities at St-Luc and St-Damien hospitals have been suspended after Benetty Augustin, a pediatrician specializing in the care of children with epilepsy, was kidnapped on May 5 on her way to work https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-36626-icihaiti-notice-the-activities-of-st-damien-and-saint-luc-hospitals-are-closed.html

While on May 17, Jacques Pierre Pierre, medical director of the State University Hospital of Haiti (General Hospital), was kidnapped, causing a work stoppage for the resident staff of the establishment https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36696-haiti-news-zapping.html

The Bernard Mevs Hospital, one of the main hospitals in Haiti, in support of the Haitian Society of Pediatrics, to protest against the kidnapping of pediatrician Benetty Augusti closed its doors for 3 days. https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-36706-icihaiti-notice-bernard-mevs-hospital-closes-its-doors.html

Closures that have worsened an already difficult situation in a country where access to care is problematic for the majority of the population according to MSF.

While supporting his colleagues' decision to suspend their services, Dr Frandy expressed his deep solidarity with them, adding that at the same time "we are doing our best to provide emergency care, but soon we won't know where to refer the patients requiring further treatment. If health professionals continue to be attacked and targeted, Haiti’s health system may no longer be able to cope with the needs.".

Let's recall that during the peak of violence between the "400 Mawoso" and "Chen Mechan" gangs (April 24 to May 7) MSF received 96 gunshot wounds in its medical facilities in Port-au-Prince...

Also remember that on April 1st MSF had temporarily suspended its activities due to violence committed by gangs https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36325-haiti-insecurity-msf-temporarily-suspends-the-activities-of-its-cite-soleil-hospital-center.html . Also following a previous wave of violence, services for victims of serious burns had already had to be transferred to another MSF establishment in the capital. In addition, in August 2021, MSF had been forced to permanently close the hospital that the NGO has been operating for 15 years in the neighborhood of Martissant https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34388-haiti-gang-war-medecins-sans-frontieres-puts-the-keys-under-the-door-in-martissant.html

HL/ HaitiLibre