Violence escalates in Port-au-Prince

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has warned of a serious escalation of violence in the Cul-de-Sac Plain area in the Northeast of Port-au-Prince, following the disappearance on October 18, 2026, of several members of the Gang Repression Force (FRG) during an attack on their vehicle by members of armed groups.

Injuries rise in MSF hospitals

Between October 18 and 26, 30 patients injured by bullets or drone explosions were received and treated in the MSF hospitals of Tabarre and Cité Soleil. Davina Hayles, MSF mission head in Haiti, expressed concern over the outbreak of violence in several densely populated neighborhoods of the capital, noting that among the victims were several women and children.

Worsening conditions for civilians

She warned that the armed conflicts could lead to more casualties and displaced people in the coming days, especially with the arrival of additional international security contingents. Some MSF colleagues have been forced to leave their homes and take refuge in an MSF accommodation.

Access to medical care becomes difficult

Due to ongoing conflicts, MSF has noted that several of its patients have encountered serious difficulties in accessing medical facilities. Some patients injured by bullets have taken several hours to reach MSF hospitals in Tabarre and Cité Soleil, as roads and bridges are blocked and movement is extremely risky.

Health system in crisis

In a capital where the health system has collapsed and many facilities are closed, Hayles emphasized the importance of guaranteeing access to open and functional medical facilities. MSF has also been forced to suspend its mobile clinic activities and treated water supply operations in the various neighborhoods affected by the armed conflicts.

Double threat to civilians

Hayles described the situation as terrible, noting that patients and those without access to treated water in these neighborhoods face a double punishment, as they can be direct or collateral victims and are also deprived of access to medical care and water.

MSF's long-term presence in Haiti

Present in Haiti for more than 30 years, MSF responds to vital emergencies in the face of the collapse of the health system and the increase in armed violence. In Port-au-Prince and throughout the country, MSF teams provide trauma care, maternal emergency care, and care for victims of sexual violence, while deploying mobile clinics and emergency aid in response to epidemics and natural disasters.