Haiti: Médecins Sans Frontières Partially Resumes Medical Activities in Port-au-Prince

Port-au-Prince, December 11, 2024 – Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is partially resuming its medical activities in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area after a 22-day suspension caused by repeated threats and violence against its staff and patients.

The decision to suspend MSF’s activities, even temporarily, was extremely difficult because the city is heavily affected by violence, and the medical needs are immense. Thousands of people are seeking basic healthcare, while the health system is weakened by violence and mass displacement. The few remaining public and private facilities are overwhelmed by the growing needs, leaving many people without any option for care.

However, the seriousness of the attacks against MSF’s staff and ambulances forced the organization to take this step.

MSF is now resuming activities thanks to a constructive dialogue with key stakeholders and involvement by the authorities to ensure respect for our teams and our medical mission. Nevertheless, the risk for our teams and patients remains high, particularly in ambulances. As a result, our transportation of patients remains suspended for now, and Turgeau Hospital remains closed, because it can only operate when we can safely transfer patients to other facilities when needed.

Today, we are reopening the Tabarre, Carrefour and Cité Soleil hospitals and the Pran Men'm clinic.

MSF is calling again for all parties to respect our staff, patients, and medical facilities, which is essential for our activities to continue.

“These past three weeks have been especially painful,” said Jean-Marc Biquet, MSF head of mission in Haiti. “We had to suspend admissions of new patients, fully aware that many were unable to access the care they desperately needed. We are continuing our efforts to ensure that it is safe enough to fully resume our activities. Despite the commitments made by the authorities, the risks remain high, and our ability to continue our work in Haiti is uncertain as we move ahead. We call on all parties to respect our medical and humanitarian mission so that we can respond to medical needs to the full extent of our capacity.”