Haiti gang attack on journalists covering hospital reopening leaves 2 dead

Haitis online media association said two reporters were killed and several others were wounded in a gang attack on Tuesday on the reopening of PortauPrinces biggest public hospitalStreet gangs have taken over an estimated 8537 of Haitis capital PortauPrince and they forced the closure of the General Hospital early this year Authorities had pledged to reopen the facility Tuesday but as journalists gathered to cover the event suspected gang members opened fire in a vicious Christmas Eve attackRobest Dimanche a spokesman for the Online Media Collective identified the dead journalists as Markenzy Nathoux and Jimmy Jean Dimanche said an unspecified number of reporters had also been wounded in the attack which he blamed on the Viv Ansanm coalition of gangsHaitis interim president Leslie Voltaire said in an address to the nation that journalists and police were among the victims of the attack He did not specify how many casualties there were or give a breakdown for the dead or woundedI send my sympathies to the people who were victims the national police and the journalists Voltaire said pledging this crime is not going to go unpunishedA video posted online by the reporters trapped inside the hospital showed what appeared to be two lifeless bodies of men on stretchers their clothes bloodied One of the men had a lanyard with a press credential around his neckRadio Teacuteleacute Meacutetronome initially reported that seven journalists and two police officers were wounded Police and officials did not immediately respond to calls for information on the attackStreet gangs have taken over an estimated 8537 of Haitis capital PortauPrince They forced the closure of the General Hospital early this year during violence that also targeted the main international airport and Haitis two largest prisonsAuthorities had pledged to reopen the facility Tuesday but as journalists gathered to cover the event suspected gang members opened fireVideo posted online earlier showed reporters inside the building and at least three lying on the floor apparently wounded That video could also not be immediately verifiedJohnson Izo Andreacute considered Haitis most powerful gang leader and part of a gang known as Viv Ansanm which that has taken control of much of PortauPrince posted a video on social media claiming responsibility for the attackThe video said the gang coalition had not authorized the hospitals reopeningHaiti has seen journalists targeted before In 2023 two local journalists were killed in the space of a couple of weeks radio reporter Dumesky Kersaint was fatally shot in midApril that year while journalist Ricot Jean was found dead later that monthIn July former Prime Minister Garry Conille visited the Hospital of the State University of Haiti more widely known as the General Hospital after authorities regained control of it from gangsThe hospital had been left ravaged and strewn with debris Walls and nearby buildings were riddled with bullet holes signaling fights between police and gangs The hospital is across the street from the national palace the scene of several battles in recent monthsGang attacks have pushed Haitis health system to the brink of collapse with looting setting fires and destroying medical institutions and pharmacies in the capital The violence has created a surge in patients and a shortage of resources to treat themHaitis health care system faces additional challenges during the rainy season which is likely to increase the risk of waterborne diseases Poor conditions in camps and makeshift settlements have heightened the risk of diseases like cholera with over 84000 suspected cases in the country according to UNICEFThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever