Deadly shooting at Haiti hospital leaves two dead

A shooting at Haiti’s General Hospital on Christmas Day killed two and injured several others, amid rising gang violence in Port-au-Prince.

A deadly shooting at Haiti's General Hospital in Port-au-Prince on Christmas Day has left two people dead and several others injured as journalists gathered for a press conference.

The event was meant to announce the reopening of the State University of Haiti Hospital, the country’s largest public healthcare facility, which has been closed for months due to escalating gang violence. Witnesses reported that armed men opened fire on the group of journalists, killing two reporters and a police officer who was providing security at the event.

In the ensuing chaos, some reporters were seen fleeing the scene, with others scaling walls to escape the gunfire. This attack underscores the growing power of armed gangs in Port-au-Prince, which now control over 80% of the capital.

The General Hospital, once a vital institution, has been closed since March due to repeated gang assaults, adding to the country’s healthcare crisis amid widespread violence.

Haitian officials have swiftly condemned the attack. Leslie Voltaire, the President of Haiti's Presidential Transition Council, called the shooting “unacceptable,” expressing sympathy for the victims’ families, particularly those of the police officers and journalists, and vowed that the perpetrators would face consequences.

"What happened today, Christmas Day, in the General Hospital, where the population, where the journalists, where the police officers are victims, is unacceptable. We express our sympathy to all the victims' families, in particular, to the Haiti National Police and all the journalists' associations. We guarantee them that this act will not remain without consequences," Voltaire stated.

This attack is part of a broader wave of violence gripping Haiti, where over 5,000 people have been killed in 2024 alone. Despite efforts from both the Haitian government and the international community, the lack of resources and coordination has allowed gang violence to thrive, making it increasingly difficult for authorities to restore order.

Gangs continue to expand their control, making daily life perilous for Haitians and further weakening the government’s ability to protect civilians and critical infrastructure.

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