Port-au-Prince, Haiti – Amid escalating violence in downtown Port-au-Prince, the Minister of the Interior and Local Authorities (MICT) was targeted in a violent attack by heavily armed individuals. The perpetrators breached the fence adjoining Street de la Réunion, riddling Ministry infrastructures with bullets and setting fire to equipment. The damage included two generators, central air conditioning ducts, motors, windows, furniture, and six vehicles among other losses.
Radio Télévision Caraibes (RTVC) was forced to vacate its premises on Street Chavannes due to the heightened violence, relocating to another space within the metropolitan region of Port-au-Prince. Meanwhile, approximately 6,800 displaced individuals, including over 200 pregnant women, sought refuge at Lycée Marie-Jeanne, prompting the Directorate of Civil Protection (DPC) in Port-au-Prince to issue a call for assistance from authorities and social organizations.
In response to the crisis, Secretary Anthony Blinken emphasized the urgent need for Haiti to achieve security, stability, and democracy. The United States and CARICOM backed a call for a political transition plan led by trusted representatives of Haitian society. At the same time, the Caribbean People’s Assembly held a conference denouncing the perceived interference of the international community in appointing new leaders for the country.
To address the ongoing crisis, the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO Haiti) extended support to the Ministry of Public Health and Population through assistance to the University Hospital la Paix (HUP) in Delmas 33. This support ensured that emergency care remained accessible and free, facilitating the hospital’s continued operation amidst the turmoil in Haiti.