On December 24, 2024, a tragic incident unfolded in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, when armed men attacked a group of journalists attending a government press conference about the reopening of the State University of Haiti Hospital. This hospital, the largest public medical facility in the country, had been closed earlier this year due to violence from street gangs. The press conference was intended to announce the hospital’s reopening on Christmas Eve. However, as journalists gathered, gunmen opened fire, leading to the deaths of two reporters and a police officer, while several other journalists were injured.
The attack was later claimed by Johnson “Izo” André, the leader of Haiti’s most powerful gang, Viv Ansanm, which controls large areas of Port-au-Prince. In a video posted online, André stated that the gang coalition had not authorized the hospital’s reopening. The gunfire left several journalists wounded, and footage from the scene showed at least three reporters lying on the floor, seemingly injured. The attack was described as “terrorism” by the Haitian Association of Journalists, underscoring the extreme violence facing the country’s media workers.
Armed Attack on Journalists in Haiti Leaves Two Dead, Highlights Escalating Violence and Insecurity
Among the victims were reporters Markenzy Nathoux and Jimmy Jean, who were confirmed dead in the assault. The Online Media Collective spokesperson, Robest Dimanche, identified them, while the Haitian Association of Journalists confirmed that seven additional reporters were wounded in the incident. The attack highlighted the increasingly dangerous environment for journalists in Haiti, where gang violence has escalated in recent years. The international community and local leaders condemned the violence, with Haiti’s interim president, Leslie Voltaire, offering condolences to the victims and their families.
In response, the Haitian government issued a statement condemning the attack as a heinous crime against the nation. The government emphasized that this act was an assault on the foundations of Haitian society, particularly targeting institutions dedicated to health and life. This attack took place shortly after journalists arrived at the hospital for the press conference, which had been scheduled to begin at 8 am. However, gunfire erupted around 11 am, just as they were awaiting the arrival of the health minister, Duckenson Lorthe Blema, who had been appointed in a cabinet reshuffle the previous month.
The reopening of the State University of Haiti Hospital had been eagerly anticipated after a series of gang attacks in March forced its closure. These gangs, including the one led by André, have driven Haiti’s healthcare system to the brink of collapse by looting, setting fires, and destroying medical facilities. The healthcare crisis is exacerbated by ongoing gang violence, shortages of resources, and the rainy season, which increases the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera. With more than 84,000 suspected cholera cases reported, the situation in Haiti remains dire, and the violent attack on journalists further underscores the country’s struggle with lawlessness and insecurity.
