Escalating Gang Violence Threatens Access to Healthcare in Haiti

UN expert William O’Neill warns that gang violence is crippling Haiti's healthcare system, calling for urgent international support to restore access and security.

William O’Neill, a UN expert focused on human rights in Haiti, issued a stark warning on Friday about the escalating risk that armed gangs pose to the country’s healthcare system.

He urged immediate action to ensure that healthcare services remain accessible to the Haitian populace.

Healthcare Facilities in Crisis

According to O’Neill, only 37 percent of healthcare facilities in Port-au-Prince are functioning effectively.

Armed groups have created a climate of fear that severely restricts access to medical care.

This troubling situation has been exacerbated by a large-scale departure of healthcare workers, many of whom are fleeing the country due to safety concerns.

O’Neill has emphasized that the threats from gangs against medical institutions appear to be part of a calculated strategy to dismantle the healthcare system, rather than isolated incidents of violence.

Alarmingly, there are allegations that some police officers have joined in these attacks, further endangering healthcare workers.

Escalating Violence and Health Risks

Recent violent incidents highlight the gravity of this situation.

Notable examples include a violent attack on Bernard Mevs Hospital on December 17 and the tragic slayings of journalists and a police officer during the reopening of General Hospital on December 24.

O’Neill has expressed deep alarm over the rising occurrences of diseases like cholera and tuberculosis, which have surged as a direct consequence of disrupted healthcare access.

Many Haitians, especially vulnerable children, find themselves in precarious circumstances due to this alarming trend of violence.

International Response and Ongoing Crisis

In response to this escalating humanitarian crisis, O’Neill has called on the international community to support Haitian authorities in combating this insecurity and to ensure that healthcare services are available to everyone.

He stressed the necessity for the government to proactively investigate these assaults and bring those responsible to justice.

This healthcare predicament unfolds amid a wider backdrop of rampant violence in Haiti.

Since the start of 2024, the UN has reported over 5,350 deaths and more than 2,155 injuries linked to gang violence, raising the total casualties since 2022 to an alarming 17,000.

Human Rights Watch has pointed out that this crisis has devastatingly impacted the healthcare sector, with around 75 percent of medical facilities running low on critical supplies and lacking qualified personnel.

As violence escalates, efforts from the international community to restore safety have intensified.

In September 2024, Kenyan police arrived in Haiti as part of a UN-sanctioned Multinational Security Support Mission under Security Council Resolution 2699.

Although the Security Council extended the Kenyan-led initiative for another year on September 30, turning it into a fully funded UN peacekeeping operation faced various challenges.

This ongoing security crisis is compounded by a broader political turmoil in Haiti, particularly following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.

Human Rights Watch has noted that this tragic event has further deepened Haiti’s constitutional crisis, resulting in the paralysis of Parliament and significant disruption within the justice system.

Source: Jurist