Haitians continue to suffer the consequences of armed gangs. While the country is still struggling to make health care accessible, hospitals have been forced to suspend their activities. The few rare establishments that function are sometimes overwhelmed with a reduced staff, because the doctors cannot move.
In Haiti, the gang war does not even spare the sick. Like the hospital Albert Schweitzer, in Deschapelles, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) announced this Thursday, March 9, the suspension of its activities in Cité Soleil, a commune in the capital, Port-au-Prince. A decision taken because of the clashes that took place near his establishment, located in the town.
« We have been forced to temporarily close our hospital in Cité Soleil, Haiti, due to violent clashes between heavily armed rival groups taking place around the hospital writes Amnesty International on its Twitter account.
MSF says it is unable to guarantee the safety of its staff and patients. This closure, added to the context of the crisis, will directly hit the inhabitants of Cité Soleil.
In Port-au-Prince, the hospitals that are still functioning are sometimes overwhelmed because they alone cannot accommodate too many patients. Added to this is the inability of doctors to travel, due to the insecurity in the country.
In recent days, health personnel have been forced to work in alternating shifts, because of gunshot wounds which add to an already difficult to contain crowds.
