Doctors’ charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said at least two of its patients died in Haiti after police and civil defense attacked their ambulance in the capital Port-au-Prince.
The charity said its teams were transporting three patients with gunshot wounds to MSF hospital on Monday when they were stopped by authorities and forced to transfer to a public hospital.
When they arrived, officers and “members of the self-defense group” attacked the vehicle, slashing the tires and forcing the occupants out with tear gas.
The injured patients were later taken off the hospital grounds, where “at least two of them were executed”, the charity said.
MSF’s statement was unclear about the condition of the third patient. However, the group said its paramedics were also assaulted by “law enforcement officers and members of self-defense groups” during the incident.
MSF said staff were “violently attacked, insulted, pepper sprayed, threatened with death” and held hostage for more than four hours before being released. The motive behind the attack is unclear.
Christophe Garnier, head of the group’s representation in the country, said: “This act is a shocking display of violence and it seriously calls into question MSF’s ability to continue providing services. essential care for the people of Haiti.”
MSF, also known as Doctors Without Borders, is one of the last humanitarian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) still operating in Haiti, where violent chaos has gripped the capital.
Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, armed gangs have seized power in many areas, leading to a spike in street violence in the poorest country in the Americas.
A UN Security Council briefing last month heard that criminal gangs had gained control of 85% of the capital.
According to the United Nations, more than 3,600 people have died in Haiti since January and more than 500,000 have been forced to flee their homes.
The United Nations sent an international police force to Haiti, mostly Kenyan police. The delegation is said to have secured several important locations in the capital, including the national hospital, seaport and airport.
However, several US airlines suspended flights to the country this week after three planes were hit by gunfire while approaching or leaving the airport this week.
A new prime minister was sworn in in Haiti earlier this week. Alix Didier Fils-Aimé said his priority is to “restore security” in the country.
