Political Upheaval, Renewed Gang Violence Complicate Situation in Haiti
Health care facilities remain open as leadership, staff adapt to uncertainties
Posted on Nov 14, 2024
Haiti is once again grappling with deepening political instability and a surge in gang violence, threatening the lives and livelihoods of its citizens and the ability to provide quality health care.
On November 11, Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council—created to reestablish democratic order in the country—ousted interim Prime Minister Garry Conille after six months, claiming he failed to restore security and democratic rule, and replaced him with Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, an entrepreneur and former senate candidate.
This political instability has challenged law enforcement. While security forces from Kenya are on the ground, they have limited resources and manpower and have not been able to stem the violence.
The gangs dissolved their coalition, breaking the truce between factions. The situation has resulted in increasing violence in the capital of Port-au-Prince and elsewhere, including Petite Rivière de l'Artibonite where Zanmi Lasante (ZL), as Partners In Health is known in Haiti, operates.
Roads from the capital to the Central Plateau are again blocked, disrupting the transport of supplies to clinics and hospitals.
Gangs opened fire and hit multiple planes coming in and out of the Port-au-Prince airport, which is now closed. No date is set for its reopening. The Federal Aviation Administration has banned all flights from the United States to Haiti for the next 30 days, and some airlines have suspended operations to Haiti for the next three months.
Now, for the second time this year, Haiti’s busiest international airport is shut down, derailing critical humanitarian aid coming into the country.
“Despite these challenging situations and risky environment, the team remains committed as never before while being prudent,” says Dr. Wesler Lambert, Zanmi Lasante’s interim executive director. “We will continue to create hope and do what we know best, which is providing health care to the best of our capacity.”
Zanmi Lasante remains strong and continues to operate facilities and provide critical care and resources to those who need it most, even under the threat of attack and supply chain disruptions. Staff mental health and wellness teams continue to be an essential resource for caregivers, who are dealing with traumatic experiences while providing essential care.
For more than 40 years, Zanmi Lasante has been a cornerstone of health care delivery in Haiti and remains a critical lifeline today for the most vulnerable Haitians.
