Haiti's Online Media Association confirmed that two journalists were killed and several others injured on Tuesday during a gang attack while covering the reopening of Port-au-Prince’s largest public hospital. The General Hospital had been forced to shut down earlier this year due to the dominance of street gangs in the capital, but authorities had promised to reopen it. However, as reporters gathered for the event, gunfire erupted in what is being called a Christmas Eve massacre.

Robest Dimanche, spokesperson for the Online Media Collective, identified the slain journalists as Markenzy Nathoux and Jimmy Jean. He also stated that several other reporters were wounded in the attack, which he attributed to the Viv Ansanm coalition of gangs.

Interim President Leslie Voltaire addressed the nation, expressing condolences to the victims, including journalists and police officers, though he refrained from giving specific numbers of casualties. "This crime will not go unpunished," Voltaire vowed, pledging justice for the victims.

Disturbing footage shared by reporters trapped inside the hospital showed two lifeless bodies, their clothing soaked in blood. One of the victims was seen wearing a press credential lanyard, underscoring the targeted nature of the attack on journalists.

This tragic incident follows a series of similar attacks on journalists in Haiti. In April of the same year, radio reporter Dumesky Kersaint was shot and killed, and later in the month, journalist Ricot Jean was found dead under mysterious circumstances.

The violence has severely impacted Haiti's health system, which has already been overwhelmed by looting, arson, and the destruction of medical institutions and pharmacies. During a visit to the General Hospital in July, former Prime Minister Garry Conille observed the damage, with bullet-riddled walls and debris scattered throughout the facility. Located just across from the national palace, the hospital has witnessed ongoing clashes between gangs and law enforcement.

The ongoing gang violence has pushed Haiti's healthcare system to the brink, with a rising number of patients and dwindling resources to treat them. The situation is further exacerbated by the rainy season, which heightens the risk of waterborne diseases like cholera. According to UNICEF, over 84,000 suspected cholera cases have been reported, with the nation's camps and makeshift settlements suffering from poor sanitary conditions.

This ongoing violence continues to destabilize the country, leaving both its healthcare system and media community in peril.



(Wafric News)